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Customs, to use induced security for Customs transactions and to benefit from flat-rate
security for Customs transactions.
The motivation for the Ministry of Trade for narrowing down the use of ATS in Turkey was
that ATS proved to be insufficient in providing the necessary safety and trade facilitation needs
in each passing year. Firstly, ATS was an intermediate status with no international recognition.
Secondly, since there were no physical site visits by Customs officials and no particular
requirements for record-keeping, safety and security, it was impossible for the Customs to
provide additional trade facilitation measures.
4.2.1.2. AEO Design
To overcome the deficiencies of ATS, Turkey has launched its Authorized Economic Operator
(AEO) Program in 2013 based on Article 5A of the Turkish Customs Code (2009) and the
Turkish Customs Implementation Regulation on Simplification of Customs Procedures (2013
amendment).
The Ministry of Trade developed the AEO Program of Turkey in compliance with the WCO
SAFE Framework. The design of the AEO is in general based on the EU program. However,
some of the aspects of C-TPAT (the AEO program of USA) and South Korean AEO program
were also incorporated to the Turkish AEO Program design.
In Turkey, the Directorate General of Risk Management and Control was established in June
2011 based on the Customs Law No. 640 with the responsibility of risk analysis and risk
management. AEO program in Turkey has been developed and implemented by this
Directorate.
During the development of the AEO program in Turkey, the Directorate General of Risk
Management and Control has benefited from extended discussions with a sample group of
domestic firms and non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, experts from the
Netherlands, France, and South Korea were invited to thoroughly understand the development
and implementation of the AEO programs in these countries.
The AEO program in Turkey involves both export and import regimes. AEO status was
obtained by exporters, importers and international freight carriers, in that order. Currently,
other operators of the supply chain are not eligible for the AEO status.
The Ministry of Trade has gone to great lengths at creating awareness about the AEO program
in Turkey in the stages of development and implementation including but not limited to
development of a logo, development of a web page, launching an event video, promotional
activities –at the Minister level- in all 8 Regional Customs and Trade Directorates in Turkey,
manuals and brochures (printed and online) and online promotional videos.
Figure 4.2 presents the number of AEOs in Turkey starting from year 2013. As observed in the
figure, during the inaugural years, the AEO program was met with some degree of resistance
owing to the objections of the ATS holder companies. These companies insisted on being
upgraded to the trade facilitation measures provided by the AEO status without reapplying.
However, the Ministry had to stipulate brand new application procedures due to added record-
keeping, safety and security measures that had to be monitored through field visits.