FOREIGN TRADE ZONES
27
imported into the free port may not be consumed or used within the
zone unless the ordinary duty has been paid.
Danzig—Goods may be unloaded from vessels and stored in
warehouses without customs formalities, and may be repacked as
long as this involves no industrial operation. . A special set of books
must be maintained by the importers covering such transactions.
Sorting, repacking, and reshipment are allowed in the free port.
Special customs regulations permit the withdrawal of imported mate-
rials from the free port for local manufacture and thereafter for
reexport. No merchandising or shipbuilding are provided for in the
free port. Various importers store goods in the warehouses of the
tree harbor pending sale, when they are cleared of customs duties and
entered. Failing such sale, they are sometimes returned to the
sender, in which case no customs formalities are required.
Hamburg and Cuxhaven.—Operations which would be legal within
the customs area are legal if carried on within the free zone, except
that warehouse quarters which are rented may not be used for pur-
poses other than those specified in the contract, nor may third parties
use the quarters rented without permission. Forwarders, quartermen,
warehousemeén, etc., may warehouse goods for the account of other
firms, and shipping companies may warehouse goods for their own
account, or when delivered to them for shipment. In rented ware-
houses only the ordinary commercial treatment of goods may take
place; any further treatment or refining of goods can be done with
special permission only. Unpacking or repacking of goods to save
customs duties when imported into Germany or to prepare them for
smuggling purposes is forbidden. Personal use and consumption of
goods in the free port, free of duty, is prohibited, with some excep-
tions. It is forbidden to retail or peddle goods or buy goods from
ship crews in the free zone. All ship chandlers desiring to do business
must first obtain permission from the president of the Freihafen
Lagerhaus Gesellschaft, and goods may be sold for equipping ocean
vessels only against & written order of the shipowner. Orders from
shipowners for spirits and tobacco must be on special forms prescribed
by the harbor officials. In order to prevent customs and tax viola-
tions those who rent quarters in the free zone for the purpose of
manufacturing spirits or perfumery must provide a room in which
their workers may be personally searched by the customs officials.
Bremen and Bremerhaven.—All usual operations in connection with
port traffic are permitted in the free zones. The arrangement of
goods and samples for inspection by possible buyers is permitted in
spaces rented by the exhibitor. In connection with the retail trade,
the prohibitions made by the Bremen authorities applying to the
free harbor are as follows:
1. Tt is prohibited to offer goods of all kinds for sale on land or on board vessels
without orders in advance. The retail sale of foodstuffs may be permitted by the