Demystifying A.TR vs. EUR.1 for Turkish Agri-Food Exports to the European Union

## The Crucial Distinction: Free Circulation vs. Origin One of the most frequent friction points in Turkish exports to the EU is confusion between the **A.TR Movement Certificate** and the **EUR.1 Certificate of Origin**. ### 1. The A.TR Certificate (Decision 1/95) The 1995 EU-Turkey Customs Union covers industrial goods and processed agricultural products. An A.TR certificate certifies that the goods are in **free circulation** in Turkey—meaning import formalities have been completed and customs duties or equivalent charges have been levied. *Crucial rule*: A.TR does not certify originating status; it certifies free circulation. ### 2. The EUR.1 Certificate (Decision 1/98) Unprocessed agricultural goods (fresh fruits, vegetables, live animals) and coal and steel products fall outside the main Customs Union. Instead, they are governed by bilateral preferential trade agreements (Decision No 1/98 of the EC-Turkey Association Council). To claim preferential 0% or reduced duty on products such as **fresh or chilled European Seabass (HS 0302.84)** or **dried figs (HS 0804.20)**, the exporter must provide a **EUR.1 Movement Certificate** proving that the goods originated in Turkey according to the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) rules of origin. ### Practical Checklist for Importers 1. **Always verify the 6-digit HS Code first**: If it begins with Chapter 01 to 24, check whether the commodity qualifies under 1/98 (EUR.1) or processed food under 1/95 (A.TR). 2. **Ensure electronic verification via BİLGE**: Modern Turkish EUR.1 certificates carry a QR verification hash linked to the Turkish Ministry of Trade digital customs system.