SUMMARY :

• The EU and Türkiye agreed to mutually recognise their Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programmes, which should facilitate legitimate trade and reduce customs controls for trusted operators once the necessary information-exchange system is operational.

More details :

Earlier this month, the EU–Türkiye Customs Cooperation Committee agreed to mutually recognise the EU and Türkiye’s respective Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programmes.

Under the agreement, customs authorities will be able to consider an operator’s trusted-trader status when conducting risk assessments and determining the appropriate level of customs controls. This should enhance supply-chain security while facilitating legitimate trade between the EU and Türkiye.

The agreement will enter into force once the structured exchange of information on authorised operators has been established. FESI will keep you informed as soon as we have greater clarity on the precise date of application.

Once the agreement is operational, it will be important to assess whether it delivers tangible improvements for sporting goods companies on the ground - particularly whether AEO-certified operators experience fewer customs controls in practice. We would therefore welcome any feedback from members on their experiences following its implementation.

Further information is available in the European Commission’s press release.