DECISION No 1/2025 OF THE EU-TÜRKIYE CUSTOMS COOPERATION COMMITTEE

of 24 April 2025

on the use of A.TR movement certificates issued electronically [2025/1239]

THE CUSTOMS COOPERATION COMMITTEE,

Having regard to Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of the Customs Union (1), and in particular Article 3(6) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) At the beginning of 2020, EU partner countries having a free trade agreement with the Union were confronted with the impossibility of providing movement certificates in due form, namely in the correct paper format, signed by hand and stamped in wet ink, considering that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in a number of countries contacts between the customs authorities of the EU partner countries and economic operators were suspended. It was therefore considered appropriate to adopt exceptional measures applicable on a reciprocal basis, to ensure the full implementation of preferential trade.

(2) The customs authorities of the EU Member States and of the EU partner countries were invited to accept movement certificates issued electronically with a digital signature, stamp or

cachet

of the competent authorities, or in the form of a copy of the original certificate, issued either in paper or electronic form, namely a scanned copy or one available online.

(3) The measures were also applicable to the A.TR movement certificates for the purpose of free circulation of goods within the EU - Türkiye Customs Union. This practice was based on the flexibility provided for in Article 10, paragraph 1, of Decision No 1/2006 of the Customs Cooperation Committee of 26 July 2006 (2) (‘Decision No 1/2006’). According to that provision, A.TR movement certificates are to be submitted to the customs authorities of the importing State in accordance with the procedures applicable in that State.

(4) The exceptional circumstances that led to the adoption of the flexible measures were no longer considered relevant, thus it was decided that those measures would cease to apply from 1 May 2024.

(5) The Union and Türkiye acknowledged that the experience of trade under the exceptional measures adopted due to the COVID-19 pandemic had been positive and considered it appropriate to continue the good practices introduced under the exceptional circumstances during the pandemic in order for the economic operators to benefit from the digitalisation of the A.TR movement certificates.

(6) The system designed and developed for the electronic issuance of A.TR movement certificates offers the possibility for the customs authorities to check the authenticity of A.TR movement certificates instantly, without prejudice to Article 16 of the Decision No 1/2006 concerning procedures for subsequent verifications. Detailed arrangements should be laid down on implementation of the authenticity checks. The same functionality should be enabled once a system of digitalisation of A.TR movement certificates is established for the electronic issuance of such certificates in the Union.

(7) In the context of the preferential trade in the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) area, which includes both the EU and Türkiye, the Joint Committee of the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin adopted the Decision No 1/2024 (3) concerning the use of movement certificates EUR.1 and EUR-MED issued electronically.

(8) For a harmonised practice concerning the use of movement certificates and having regard to Article 9 and Annex II of the Decision No 1/2006, it is appropriate that A.TR movement certificates issued electronically under the framework of the EU – Türkiye Customs Union, be accepted by the customs authorities of the EU Member States and Türkiye.

(9) From 8 July 2024, the customs authorities of the EU Member States and Türkiye started to accept electronically issued A.TR movement certificates. It is therefore appropriate to provide for the retroactive application of the use of A.TR movement certificates issued electronically from 8 July 2024, in order to ensure continuity of the good practices introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic from that date, without prejudice to actions undertaken by the customs administrations of both parties during the interim period from 1 May 2024 to 8 July 2024, and without affecting rights granted to individuals during that period,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. Without prejudice to the provisions laid down in the Decision No 1/2006 of the Customs Cooperation Committee, the customs authorities of the EU Member States and Türkiye shall accept A.TR movement certificates issued electronically when submitted at importation, where all the following conditions are fulfilled:

(a) the specimen contained in Annex I of Decision No 1/2006 of the Customs Cooperation Committee is used as the basis for the A.TR movement certificates issued electronically;

(b) the customs authorities of the exporting State provide for a secured online internet-based system to verify the authenticity of A.TR movement certificates issued electronically;

(c) the A.TR movement certificates issued electronically bear a unique serial number and, if available, security features by which they can be identified.

2. The Union and Türkiye may decide to suspend the acceptance of A.TR movement certificates issued electronically where the conditions listed in paragraph 1 are not fulfilled and shall notify each other thereof in advance. Both parties shall ensure the publication of the notifications according to their own procedures, indicating the starting date of the suspension.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

It shall apply from 8 July 2024.

Done at Brussels, 24 April 2025.

For the Customs Cooperation Committee

The President

M. PETSCHKE

(1)

OJ L 35, 13.2.1996, p. 1

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1995/1(5)/oj

(2) Decision No 1/2006 of the EC-Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee of 26 September 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council (

OJ L 265, 26.9.2006, p. 18

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2006/646/oj

(3) Decision No 1/2024 of the Joint Committee of the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin of 12 December 2024 amending Decision No 1/2023 of the Joint Committee with respect to the use of movement certificates issued electronically in the framework of that Convention applicable as of 1 January 2025 (

OJ L 2025/16, 9.1.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/16/oj

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1239/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)