Booklovers Face Tough Customs Rules

Russia's State Customs Committee, in an attempt to stem the illegal export of rare books, has imposed new rules that require anyone leaving the country to present a catalogue of their library to the government or face possible confiscation of their books.


In practical terms the regulations mean that before moving from Russia, foreigners and citizens alike need to draft a detailed list of their books and take it to the Russian State Library, where the Committee on the Export of Publications Abroad will inspect it for anything old or valuable or subject to taxation.


Television producer Mark Katkov, who will depart for CBS's Washington bureau within the week, said that his moving company told him they could not transport his collection of hundreds of books without the list.


"My reaction was, 'You're kidding,' and they said 'No, we're not,' so I just did it," Katkov said. "It took me almost three days."


Since the new rules were imposed in November, international moving companies like Interdean and Klingenberg have required all customers to draft such a list.


Interdean discovered the regulations the hard way after a shipment of books belonging to a Coca-Cola executive were refused at customs. The shipment was sitting in Interdean's warehouse for weeks because of the confusion, said Galina Morovyova, a spokeswoman for Interdean.


Indeed, dissemination of the new rules has been virtually nonexistent. An inspector for the publications committee said that all embassies should have copies of the rules available for their citizens; of several contacted this week, however, none had any such details.


The information required goes far beyond a simple list of title and author. A form provided by the publications committee includes 11 categories of information for every book, including publisher, place and date of publication, print run, number of pages, volume and even price paid for the book. The form stipulates that the list must be compiled according to theme: reference, history, fiction, art and so on.


The publications committee charges 30 rubles for every book considered.


Enforcement as well as knowledge of the rules appears to be patchy among inspectors. A traveler can always gamble.


For a small quantity of books, customs agents generally are willing to scan for any old volumes, and then send them through, said Lilia Vergelius of the publications committee. If they see anything old or even questionable, however, they will confiscate it.


But if a large number of books is being sent out of the country, the entire lot will often be refused without approved documents, she said.


"Because they do not want to take the time to check it themselves, they send it to the committee to have it checked for rare books," Vergelius said. "They do not want to be responsible for letting any valuable editions out."


Another inspector, Galina Akimova, said that the list of what is considered rare or valuable is long and rather complicated, and that only specialists are qualified to decide what may be exported.


"There is a five-page manual on what is considered rare," she said. "It depends on print run, the design, the illustrations, and historical or cultural significance."


Reference books like dictionaries and encyclopedias are taxed, because of their relatively low cost in Russia, and books and other publications printed here before 1945 are generally forbidden, she said.


The regulation puts a new twist on Russian rules affecting literature. In the Soviet era, travelers had to disclose the books being brought into the country; now officials are using fears of cultural theft to justify the requirement that books be listed on their way out.


"We will not allow our books to be smuggled abroad in such huge quantities as before," said Lyudmila Kobyakova, a regional Customs Service counselor. "If they are books of no national value, then they can be exported. I think it is a good rule."


Asked about past cases of illegal export, Kobyakova cited the complete works of Lenin as an example.


The new rules were issued by the Customs Committee on Nov. 11, 1993, she said. They add to the already nightmarishly complex web of customs requirements for people leaving the country. At present, assessment and approval from the Culture Ministry is also required for the export of carpets and art. Documents like stamped receipts, tax justification and official currency exchange forms must be produced.


The complexities have turned many well-intentioned business travelers, journalists and aid workers into unwitting smugglers, packing paintings and sculptures into their suitcases.


"Everybody I've talked to has just done it that way, and I don't know anyone who has had any problems," said Harry Bodaan, director of the International Press Club and Center, Moscow, who is leaving the country soon himself. He said he will just leave his books with the Press Club rather than cope with the paperwork.


Katkov, on the other hand, accepted the rules with little more than a sigh.


"I've been coming to Russia since the 1970s, and I think there are two ways to approach it. You can accept the bureaucracy like the weather, or you can fight it and make yourself miserable," he said. "I just accept it."