A.TR is not a proof of origin.
The two documents prove different things. A.TR shows that goods are in free circulation within the Türkiye–EU customs union — not where they were made. EUR.1 proves preferential origin and unlocks reduced or zero duty under a preferential agreement. This is why Chinese-origin goods in free circulation in Türkiye can enter the EU duty-free on an A.TR, while anti-dumping duty still applies by origin.
The difference in one table
| Point | A.TR movement certificate | EUR.1 movement certificate |
|---|---|---|
| What it proves | Free circulation status | Preferential origin |
| Legal basis | Türkiye–EU customs union | Preferential trade agreements (revised PEM and others) |
| Goods covered | Industrial goods and processed agricultural goods | Goods meeting the agreement's origin rules |
| Does origin matter | No — third-country goods can travel on it | Yes — origin rules must be met |
| Presentation period | 4 months from issue | 10 months under revised PEM |
| Who issues | The customs authority on the exporter's application (in Türkiye with chamber endorsement and customs approval) | |
| Benefit | No customs duty | Reduced or zero customs duty |
| Trade policy measures | Still apply according to origin | Origin is already proven |
Watch the periods. The four-month presentation period for A.TR comes from Article 8 of Decision No 1/2006 of the EC–Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee. The ten-month period for EUR.1 belongs to the revised PEM rules; if you are working under a different preferential agreement, check that agreement's own period.
Why buyers get caught out
An A.TR tells you the goods have cleared into free circulation in Türkiye — import duties paid, customs formalities completed. It says nothing about where they were manufactured.
So: goods of Chinese origin that entered free circulation in Türkiye can be shipped to the EU on an A.TR with no customs duty. But if an anti-dumping duty, safeguard measure or surveillance requirement attaches to Chinese origin, it still applies. The A.TR does not switch those off.
If you only discover this at import, your landed cost jumps and a dispute with your supplier follows. Ask for the origin in writing at the order stage — before the goods ship.
The first question is not "which document" but "what is the origin of the goods". If the origin is Turkish or EU, a preferential proof is possible. If it is third-country, an A.TR can be issued but a preferential proof cannot — and origin-based measures continue to apply.
Do not ask for an EUR.1 unless the supporting file exists. The importing customs authority can send a request for subsequent verification years later. If supplier declarations and the cost breakdown cannot be produced, the preference is withdrawn retroactively and the duty is claimed — from you.
What changed in 2026
The revised Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) rules of origin were adopted by Decision No 1/2023 of the Joint Committee of 7 December 2023 and entered into force on 1 January 2025. Under Decision No 2/2024 the old rules ran in parallel until 31 December 2025, and from 1 January 2026 only the revised rules apply.
An important qualification: this transition applies to preferential agreements and origin protocols that make a dynamic reference to the PEM Convention. Confirm separately which rule set the agreement with your counterpart country refers to; not every preferential agreement moves on the same timetable.
Two changes you will meet in practice:
- Tolerance raised from 10% to 15%
- The general tolerance for non-originating inputs increased. Working with the old rate can make you treat a product as non-originating when it actually qualifies.
- EUR-MED certificate abolished
- The certificate used under the old system to show cross-cumulation does not appear in the revised rules. Proofs of origin are limited to the EUR.1 certificate and the origin declaration.
If your procurement procedure still asks for an "EUR-MED", your Turkish supplier cannot obtain one — the document is not issued under the revised rules. Asking for it only delays the shipment.
Origin declaration and the EUR 6,000 threshold
An origin declaration is a statement the exporter writes on the invoice, delivery note or another commercial document describing the goods — no separate certificate is issued. Under the revised PEM rules two parties can make it:
- An approved exporter, with no value limit.
- Any exporter, for consignments whose total value does not exceed EUR 6,000.
The threshold is per consignment, not per invoice. Splitting a single consignment across several invoices to stay below it does not work; invoices travelling on the same vehicle are treated as one consignment on subsequent verification and the declarations are invalidated.
What to ask your Turkish supplier
- What is the origin of the goods? In writing, at the order stage — not on the shipping documents.
- Which document will you issue: A.TR, EUR.1, or an origin declaration? They are not interchangeable and you may need more than one.
- If EUR.1: can you produce the supporting file? Supplier declarations and the cost calculation, in case of subsequent verification.
- When will the document be issued? An early issue date consumes the presentation period while the goods are still in transit.
When it goes wrong
Anti-dumping duty appears on third-country goods shipped under an A.TR
No customs duty is charged, but the origin-based trade policy measure still applies. The importer finds out at clearance, the landed cost is higher than budgeted and a dispute follows.
Do this: get the origin in writing at the order stage so your broker can check whether a measure attaches to it.
The presentation period expires
An A.TR must reach the importing customs authority within four months of issue; a proof of origin under revised PEM within ten. If the shipment waits or the document is sent late, the benefit is lost.
Subsequent verification arrives and there is no file
Years after an EUR.1 or an origin declaration is issued, the importing authority may ask for proof of origin. If supplier declarations and the calculation cannot be produced, the preference is withdrawn retroactively and duty plus interest is claimed from the importer.
Simple handling in a free zone is assumed to confer origin
Repackaging, labelling, palletising or making up sets do not confer origin. An origin declaration based on them is invalid on subsequent verification.
The old 10% tolerance is used
Under the revised rules the general tolerance is 15%. Calculating with the old rate makes an exporter treat a qualifying product as non-originating and forgo the preference.
Frequently asked
What happens without an A.TR?
The EU buyer cannot use the duty relief the customs union provides, and normal third-country customs duty applies. The cost falls directly on the importer.
The certificate can also be issued after the event; the procedure and conditions are set by the exporting country's customs authority, and a refund procedure then runs on the import side. Ask your customs broker and the relevant chamber for the exact procedure — it is not set out on this page.
Can A.TR and EUR.1 be issued together?
They prove different things, so both may be needed. On a shipment to the EU the A.TR delivers the customs union relief, while the proof of origin matters separately for trade policy measures and for preferential cumulation.
Which documents are required is determined by the importer's customs broker. Ask at the order stage; completing documents after the goods have shipped costs both time and demurrage.
Our procedure still asks for EUR-MED. What now?
The EUR-MED certificate does not appear in the revised PEM rules; proofs of origin are limited to the EUR.1 and the origin declaration.
Your purchasing procedure has probably not been updated. The revised rules entered into force on 1 January 2025 and the old rules ended on 31 December 2025 — asking your supplier to obtain a document that is no longer issued only holds up the shipment.
What wording goes on the invoice for an origin declaration?
The text and the language are set out in the annex to the applicable preferential arrangement and can differ by country. We do not publish a specimen text here, because a wrong or outdated declaration costs the shipment its preference.
Take the correct wording from the origin protocol of the agreement with your country, or from a customs broker. If the exporter holds an approved exporter authorisation, the authorisation number must appear in the declaration.
Sources
- Revised PEM rules of origin — Joint Committee Decision No 1/2023 Text of the revised rules: EUR.1 and origin declaration, ten-month validity, 15% tolerance, absence of EUR-MED · eur-lex.europa.eu · accessed 1 Sep 2026
- EC–Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee Decision No 1/2006 Issue of the A.TR movement certificate and the four-month presentation period (Article 8) · eur-lex.europa.eu · accessed 1 Sep 2026
- European Commission — Guidance on the transitional provisions of the revised PEM rules Parallel application of the old and revised rules, and which agreements the transition covers · taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu (PDF) · accessed 1 Sep 2026
- Union Customs Code Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 Origin declaration and Registered Exporter (REX) provisions; Article 67(7) EUR 6,000 per-consignment threshold · eur-lex.europa.eu · accessed 1 Sep 2026
- Türkiye Ministry of Trade — Origin (FAQ) Proofs of origin and preferential origin as applied in Türkiye · ticaret.gov.tr · accessed 1 Sep 2026
This page is for information only. It is not customs or legal advice. Which document is required depends on the preferential arrangement between Türkiye and your country and on the origin of the goods; not every preferential agreement refers to the same rule set. Document procedures and periods can change through administrative measures. Confirm with your customs broker before shipping.
Change log
- Page published. Entry into force of the revised PEM rules on 1 January 2025 and the end of the old rules on 31 December 2025 verified; the qualification that the transition covers agreements with a dynamic reference to the PEM Convention was added.