GENERAL INFORMATION
 

Project title
 

MODERNISATION OF TURKISH CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION - IV

Priority area
 

Customs Union and Taxation

Beneficiary

Istanbul Customs Laboratory and Undersecretariat of Customs

Co-Beneficiary
 

Duration

Duration: 8 Months

Start: 29/11/2010

End: 28/08/2011

EU contribution (Euro)

€ 4,950,000

PROJECT SUMMARY

Brief description of the project and main objectives
 

The Framework Law published in the Official Gazette on 11 July 2001 establishes the legal basis for full harmonization with the EC legislation in Turkey. The customs union acquis consists almost exclusively of legislation which is directly binding on the Member States. Turkey’s obligations under the customs union chapter stem from the Customs Union between Turkey and the European Union (EU) that was established as of 1st January 1996 in accordance with Decision No.1/95 of the EU-Turkey Association Council.  As a consequence of the Customs Union, the Turkish Customs Legislation was revised and modernized accordingly and the Turkish Customs Tariff System was harmonized with the EU Combined Nomenclature. The Undersecretariat of Customs is the foremost institution to implement this alignment with EU Combined nomenclature together with its affiliated regional institutions. They are mainly responsible for correct customs tariff classification and analysis, verification and examination of goods. Modernization of these affiliated regional institutions bare therefore a significant importance in order to provide a service under EU standards to the customers. There are 6 customs laboratories in Turkey and Istanbul Customs Laboratory, together with the Undersecretariat of Customs, constitutes the beneficiary institutions of this project while the remaining 5 laboratories are the final beneficiaries.

Location

Achievements / expected outputs

Result 1: Examination capacity of customs laboratories in Istanbul strengthened by purchased new analytical instruments and equipments in order to examine exported/imported goods.

Result 2: Trained Laboratory staff using modern instruments to determine accurate tariff positions and controlling goods more effectively to fight against smuggling and drug trafficking

Result 3: Increased analysis capacity including alignment with the databases used by EU member’s customs laboratories and co-operation with EU customs laboratories and/or with other analytical institution inside and outside the country improved.