§1951.1.  Imports subject to ad valorem taxation

A.  For the purposes of ad valorem taxation, raw materials, goods, commodities and other articles imported into this state from outside of the continental United States shall not be treated as incorporated into the mass of the property in this state:

1.  so long as such imports remain upon the public property of the port authority or docks of any common carrier where such imports first entered this state, or

2.  so long as any such imports (other than minerals and ores of the same kind as any mined or produced in this state and manufactured articles) are held in this state in the original form in bales, sacks, barrels, boxes, cartons, containers or other original packages, and raw material held in bulk as all or a part of the raw material inventory of manufacturers or processors, solely for manufacturing or processing, or

3.  so long as any such imports are held by an importer in any public or private storage in the original form in bales, sacks, barrels, boxes, cartons, containers or other original packages and agricultural products in bulk, and fish meal, fish oil or non-edible fish products in bulk or packaged.  This provision shall not apply to a retail merchant holding such imports as part of his stock in trade for sale at retail.

B.  All such property whether entitled to exemption or not shall be reported to the proper taxing authority on the forms required by law.

C.  For the purpose of this Part, "original form" shall mean the smallest bale, sack, barrel, box, carton, container or other original package in which the raw materials, goods, commodities, or other articles can be divided and still be in an original container.

Acts 1958, No. 343, §1.  Amended by Acts 1960, No. 161, §1; Acts 1962, No. 502, §1; Acts 1978, No. 402, §1; H.C.R. No. 88, 1993 R.S., eff. May 30, 1993; H.C.R. No. 1, 1994 R.S., eff. May 11, 1994.