A.TR movement certificate explained: duty-free packaging imports from Türkiye to the EU

If you buy packaging from a Turkish manufacturer and import it into the European Union, one document does most of the work at the border: the A.TR movement certificate. It is short, it is easy to get wrong, and when it is missing or rejected the consignment is treated like goods from any other third country.

This article explains what the A.TR is, what it proves, who issues it and the practical rules that decide whether your customs broker can use it. It is general information based on the published legal texts, not legal or customs advice. Your broker should always confirm the treatment of your specific goods.

What the A.TR actually proves

The EU and Türkiye are linked by a customs union. Its final phase was set up by Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council, which entered into force on 31 December 1995. Under that decision, customs duties and charges having equivalent effect were abolished between the two sides for the goods it covers.

Those goods are industrial products and processed agricultural products that are either produced in the EU or Türkiye, or imported from a third country and put into free circulation there. Free circulation means the import formalities were completed and any customs duties due were paid in the EU or in Türkiye.

The A.TR is the document that proves this status. That is the key difference from a certificate of origin: the A.TR does not say where the goods were made. It says they are in free circulation in Türkiye and therefore qualify for customs union treatment when they enter the EU.

What the customs union does not cover

The customs union is not a full free trade area for every product. Agricultural products are covered by separate preferential arrangements, and coal and steel products fall under a separate free trade agreement. These goods do not travel on an A.TR; different rules and documents apply.

Paper and corrugated packaging are industrial products, so they normally fall within the customs union. If a consignment mixes packaging with other goods, check each item.

Duty is not the same as VAT

The A.TR deals with customs duty only. Import VAT and any excise duties are still due in the country of import under its own rules. A missing A.TR means the goods lose customs union treatment and are handled under the normal third-country rules, so check the third-country rate for your goods in TARIC. For some paper and board codes the standard rate may already be low, but other goods in the same consignment may not be, and the A.TR is still the document customs expect for customs union goods.

Who issues the A.TR, and when

The rules for using the certificate are set out in Decision No 1/2006 of the EC-Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee. In summary:

• The exporter applies. The certificate is issued at the request of the exporter, normally your supplier or their customs agent.
• Customs endorses it. The customs authorities of the exporting country endorse the A.TR when the goods are exported.
• Supporting evidence must be available. The exporter has to be ready to provide documents proving the status of the goods if customs ask for them, at the time of issue or later.

For packaging buyers, the practical point is simple: the A.TR is your supplier's job, but it should be on your checklist. Ask for it to be listed among the shipping documents in the order confirmation, together with the commercial invoice, packing list and the CMR or bill of lading.

The rules that decide whether it is accepted

Decision No 1/2006 contains several rules that regularly cause problems in practice.

The four-month window

An A.TR must be submitted to the customs authorities of the importing country within four months of the date it was endorsed by the exporting country's customs. Certificates presented late can still be accepted in two situations: when the delay was caused by exceptional circumstances, or when the goods themselves were presented to customs before the deadline.

For sea freight with long transit times or goods held in storage before clearance, keep an eye on this date.

Direct transport

Customs union treatment applies to goods transported directly between Türkiye and the EU. Goods may pass through other countries, with transhipment or temporary storage if needed, as long as they stay under the surveillance of the customs authorities in the transit country. If your forwarder plans a route through a third country, ask how this will be documented.

Language and form

The certificate is made out in one of the official languages of the EU or in Turkish. If it is made out in Turkish, it must also be made out in one of the official EU languages. The paper form is A4 size with a green guilloche background, so it is easy to spot in a document pack.

Errors, losses and late issue

Small mistakes do not automatically invalidate the certificate. Minor discrepancies between the A.TR and other documents, or obvious formal errors such as typing mistakes, should not cause rejection if they do not create doubt about the accuracy of the statements.

If an A.TR is stolen, lost or destroyed, the exporter can ask customs for a duplicate, marked "DUPLICATE". An A.TR can also be issued after export in some cases, for example when it was not issued at the time because of errors or special circumstances. It is then marked "ISSUED RETROSPECTIVELY".

Electronic A.TR certificates

Electronic issuing is now formally recognised. Decision No 1/2025 of the EU-Türkiye Customs Cooperation Committee, published in the Official Journal in July 2025, provides that A.TR certificates issued electronically are accepted when three conditions are met: they follow the specimen in the decision, the issuing customs authority provides a secure online system to check their authenticity, and each certificate has a unique serial number. The decision applies from 8 July 2024.

If your supplier sends you an electronic A.TR, pass it to your broker as received. Your broker or the importing customs office can verify it through the online check.

Verification after import

Customs can check an A.TR after the goods have been released, either at random or when they have reasonable doubts. The importing country sends the certificate back to the exporting country's customs for verification. If no reply arrives within ten months, or the reply does not confirm the certificate, customs union treatment can be refused.

This is another reason to work with a supplier who keeps clean records. A certificate that cannot be backed up later is a risk to you as the importer, not only to the exporter.

A practical checklist for packaging buyers

Before your first shipment from Türkiye:

1. Confirm the goods are covered. Paper and corrugated packaging normally is. Check any non-packaging items in the same order.
2. Agree the documents in writing. List the A.TR, commercial invoice, packing list and transport document in the order confirmation.
3. Check the details match. Descriptions, quantities and package marks on the A.TR should match the invoice and packing list.
4. Watch the timing. Present the A.TR within four months of endorsement, and plan for transit and storage time.
5. Plan the route. If goods will pass through a third country, make sure they stay under customs control.
6. Brief your broker. Agree who files the import declaration and how VAT will be handled.

For a broader overview of Incoterms, HS codes and supplier questions, read our guide to importing packaging from Türkiye into the EU. If your packaging must also meet the new EU packaging rules, see our summary of the EU PPWR for packaging buyers.

How we handle export documents

Every export order from EcologicoPack is shipped with the documents agreed at order stage, and we confirm them before production starts. Our export and logistics page explains how we prepare shipments, and you can request a quote with your specification and destination country to get started.