---
title: "A.TR vs EUR.1 vs Certificate of Origin: Türkiye–EU | Ekoroll"
description: "Which customs document packaging needs between Türkiye and the EU: A.TR vs EUR.1 vs certificate of origin, who issues each, HS codes, Incoterms, transport."
url: https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/atr-eur1-certificate-of-origin-turkey-eu
lang: en
---

[Regulation](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog)8 min read

# A.TR, EUR.1 or Certificate of Origin? Türkiye–EU Packaging Guide

Which customs document packaging needs between Türkiye and the EU: A.TR vs EUR.1 vs certificate of origin, who issues each, HS codes, Incoterms, transport.

Part of the guide: [Sustainable Food Packaging from Türkiye: EU Buyer's Sourcing Guide](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/sustainable-food-packaging-from-turkiye)

 [Mahdi Sadough](https://ekoroll.com/en/about)Founder & CEO, Ekoroll Reviewed 1 November 2026

![Shipping paperwork with an invoice on an office desk next to a kraft paper cup and a kraft takeaway box, with a truck trailer and shipping containers outside the window](https://ekoroll.com/media/blog/atr-eur1-certificate-of-origin-turkey-eu.webp)

Key takeaways

-   An A.TR movement certificate shows that industrial goods are in free circulation in the EU–Türkiye customs union, so they cross without customs duties; it does not prove where the goods were made.
-   EUR.1 proves preferential origin; between Türkiye and the EU it is used for agricultural products and coal and steel products, which are outside the customs union, not for paper or fiber packaging.
-   A certificate of origin (menşe şahadetnamesi) proves non-preferential origin; in Türkiye chambers of commerce and industry issue it electronically, and it is needed only when the buyer, a bank or the importing country asks for it.
-   Since 8 July 2024, EU customs accept electronically issued A.TR certificates with a QR code and no wet-ink signature, a practice confirmed by Decision No 1/2025 of the EU–Türkiye Customs Cooperation Committee.
-   Duty-free movement does not remove import VAT, national packaging EPR fees or trade-defence duties that depend on where the goods were made.

Three documents come up when packaging moves between Türkiye and the EU. The **A.TR movement certificate** shows that industrial goods are in free circulation in the customs union, so they cross without customs duties. The **EUR.1** proves preferential origin and is used between Türkiye and the EU only for agricultural products and coal and steel products. The **certificate of origin** (Turkish: _menşe şahadetnamesi_) proves non-preferential origin and is needed only when someone asks for it. For paper cups, food containers, bagasse items and wooden cutlery, the A.TR is the document that matters.

This guide explains each document, who issues it in Türkiye, which goods the customs union covers, the commercial and transport papers that travel with every shipment, Incoterms, transport routes and a checklist for buyers. For the sourcing side (why buyers source from Türkiye, food-contact and PPWR documents), see our [sourcing guide for sustainable food packaging from Türkiye](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/sustainable-food-packaging-from-turkiye).

## A.TR vs EUR.1 vs certificate of origin at a glance

|  | A.TR movement certificate | EUR.1 movement certificate | Certificate of origin (menşe şahadetnamesi) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it proves | Goods are in free circulation in the customs union | Preferential origin | Non-preferential origin (“economic nationality”) |
| Proves origin? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Typical use Türkiye–EU | Industrial goods, including paper, fiber and wooden packaging | Agricultural products; coal and steel products | When the buyer, a bank or the importing country requires it |
| Effect | No customs duties | Preferential duty under the relevant agreement | No duty effect; supports origin checks |
| Prepared by | Exporter or customs broker, in MEDOS | Exporter or customs broker, in MEDOS | Exporter applies to a chamber, in MEDOS |
| Approved / issued by | Authorized chamber or exporters’ association, endorsed by Turkish customs; approved exporters may self-certify | Authorized chamber or exporters’ association, endorsed by Turkish customs; invoice declaration possible | Chamber of commerce, industry or commodity exchange |
| Legal basis | Decision No 1/95 and Decision No 1/2006 | Decision No 1/98 (agriculture), 1996 coal and steel agreement | Non-preferential origin rules of the importing country |

## What is an A.TR certificate?

The A.TR is the movement certificate of the customs union that Decision No 1/95 of the EC–Turkey Association Council completed at the end of 1995. Its detailed rules are in Decision No 1/2006 of the Customs Cooperation Committee. Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade puts it plainly: the A.TR shows that goods are in free circulation and **does not show their origin**.

Practical points:

-   **Validity.** The A.TR must be presented to the customs of the importing country within **four months** of the date of issue (Article 8 of Decision No 1/2006). Late submission is accepted only in exceptional circumstances.
-   **Electronic A.TR.** Since 1 May 2024 Turkish A.TR certificates are issued through MEDOS, Türkiye’s electronic system for origin and movement documents, with a QR code. Since 8 July 2024 EU customs accept them without a wet-ink signature. Decision No 1/2025 of the EU–Türkiye Customs Cooperation Committee (24 April 2025) confirmed this practice with effect from that date.
-   **Approved exporters.** Exporters who ship frequently can be authorized by customs to complete A.TR certificates themselves (Article 11 of Decision No 1/2006).

### Free circulation is not origin

Goods are in free circulation in Türkiye when they were made there, or when they were imported from a third country and Turkish import formalities were completed and customs duties paid. Only then can they travel to the EU with an A.TR. Their origin does not change: a product made in a third country keeps that country’s origin. That is why **trade-defence duties still apply**. If the EU has anti-dumping duties on a product from a given origin, an A.TR does not remove them.

## What is an EUR.1 certificate?

The EUR.1 movement certificate proves **preferential origin** under a free trade agreement. The customs union does not cover agricultural products or coal and steel products. Agricultural products have their own preferential regime (Decision No 1/98) and coal and steel products a separate 1996 agreement, so for these goods duty relief depends on proof of origin, either an EUR.1 or an origin declaration on the invoice. According to Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade, any exporter may make an invoice declaration for consignments up to €6,000; above that, only approved exporters may.

Türkiye also uses EUR.1 with countries outside the EU with which it has free trade agreements. For paper and fiber packaging traded between Türkiye and the EU, an EUR.1 is normally not part of the file.

## What is a certificate of origin (menşe şahadetnamesi)?

A certificate of origin proves the **non-preferential origin** of goods. It gives no duty reduction. In Türkiye it is issued by chambers of commerce, industry and commodity exchanges in the TOBB network. Since 8 April 2020 these certificates are issued and approved only electronically through MEDOS, with a QR code and a verification code.

Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade states that a certificate of origin is **not mandatory for exports**; it is issued when the importing country asks for it. In practice an EU buyer asks for one when:

-   a **letter of credit** or the buyer’s bank requires it;
-   a **public tender** or the end customer asks for documented origin;
-   customs must check an **origin-based measure**, such as anti-dumping duties.

## Which goods does the customs union cover?

| Goods | Regime between Türkiye and the EU | Document |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Industrial products, including processed agricultural products (with special conditions) | Customs union | A.TR |
| Agricultural products | Preferential agreement (Decision No 1/98) | EUR.1 or invoice declaration |
| Coal and steel products | Free trade agreement of 1996 | EUR.1 or invoice declaration |

Food packaging items (paper cups, paper food containers, molded-fiber or bagasse items, cartons, paper bags, wooden and bamboo cutlery) are industrial products, so they fall under the customs union.

## Which HS codes are typical for food packaging?

The customs tariff number decides the duty, the statistics and any measures. These Harmonized System headings are common for food packaging; the EU Combined Nomenclature and Türkiye’s tariff add further digits.

| Item | Typical HS heading or subheading |
| --- | --- |
| Paper or paperboard cups, plates, trays and similar | 4823.69 |
| Molded or pressed pulp articles (for example bagasse containers and plates) | 4823.70 |
| Cartons, boxes, cases and bags of paper | 4819 |
| Wooden tableware and cutlery (not bamboo) | 4419.90 |
| Bamboo tableware and cutlery | 4419.19 |

Classification is decided item by item, from the material and the function. Confirm the code with your customs broker, or ask your customs authority for a binding tariff information decision when the volume justifies it.

## Which documents travel with every shipment?

| Document | Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| Commercial invoice | Value, seller, buyer, Incoterm, HS code per line |
| Packing list | Cartons, pallets, gross and net weights, marks |
| A.TR movement certificate | Customs-union treatment (no customs duties) |
| CMR consignment note (road) or bill of lading (sea) | Contract of carriage and proof of shipment |
| Export declaration | Filed in Türkiye by the exporter’s customs broker |
| Certificate of origin | Only when required |
| Product documents | Food-contact declaration, PPWR documentation, test reports: see the [sourcing guide](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/sustainable-food-packaging-from-turkiye) |

Check that the invoice, the packing list and the A.TR show the same goods, quantities and parties. Most delays at import come from mismatched documents, not from the goods.

## Incoterms: who does what?

The ICC Incoterms rules set who pays for transport and insurance, where the risk passes and who handles customs. Common choices for packaging from Türkiye:

-   **EXW / FCA:** the buyer’s forwarder collects the goods; with FCA the seller clears the goods for export, which is usually the practical choice.
-   **CPT / CIP / CIF:** the seller pays the main carriage; risk passes when the goods are handed to the first carrier or loaded on board.
-   **DAP:** the seller delivers to the agreed place in the EU; the buyer handles import clearance and import VAT.
-   **DDP:** the seller also handles EU import clearance and taxes, which usually needs a VAT registration or a fiscal representative in the country of import.

Name the place precisely (for example “FCA İzmir warehouse” or “DAP Hamburg”) and agree who prepares the A.TR and who files the EU import declaration.

## How do goods travel from Türkiye to the EU?

-   **Road.** Direct trucks from western Türkiye to the EU via the Balkans. Door-to-door without transshipment; transit time depends on the destination and on waiting times at border crossings.
-   **Ro-Ro.** Trailers travel by ferry from Turkish ports to Italy or France and continue by road or rail. DFDS, for example, lists Pendik–Trieste, Mersin–Trieste, Martaş–Trieste and Yalova–Sète; the Pendik–Trieste crossing takes about 65 hours.
-   **Container sea freight.** Full (FCL) or shared (LCL) containers from Turkish ports to EU ports. It suits large volumes; transit time depends on the line and any transshipment.

Road and Ro-Ro usually take days rather than weeks. Ask your forwarder for the current schedule and transit time on your lane before you plan stock.

## Which taxes and fees remain?

Zero customs duty is not zero cost at the border:

-   **Import VAT** is charged in the EU Member State where the goods are imported, as for any import from outside the EU VAT area. Many countries offer deferment or reverse-charge schemes for regular importers.
-   **Packaging EPR.** Registration and fees under national schemes and the PPWR apply in the country where the packaging is placed on the market. See the [guide to EU packaging regulations](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/eu-packaging-regulations-horeca-2026-guide).
-   **Trade defence.** Anti-dumping, anti-subsidy or safeguard duties follow the goods’ origin and product, not the A.TR.

## Checklist for buyers

1.  Ask where each item is produced and whether it is in free circulation in Türkiye.
2.  Agree the Incoterm, the named place and who files export and import declarations.
3.  Confirm the HS code of each line with your customs broker.
4.  Check that an A.TR will be issued and presented within four months of issue.
5.  Ask for a certificate of origin if your bank, tender or customs check needs it.
6.  Check whether trade-defence measures apply to the product and its origin.
7.  Match the invoice, packing list, A.TR and transport document before the goods leave.
8.  Plan import VAT and EPR registration in each country of sale.
9.  Keep the product documents (food contact, PPWR) with the shipment file.

## Documents with Ekoroll

Ekoroll is a manufacturer-direct supply partner based in İzmir, Türkiye, for [paper cups](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/disposable-paper-cups), [paper food containers](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/disposable-food-containers) and [bagasse food containers](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/bagasse-food-containers). Each quote states where the item is produced, the shipping route and which customs documents apply; the commercial and transport documents travel with every shipment. Samples are available before a bulk order. [Contact us](https://ekoroll.com/en/contact) with your destination and Incoterm, or browse the [catalog](https://ekoroll.com/en/catalogue).

## Products in this article

-    [**Disposable Paper Cups**View product](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/disposable-paper-cups)
-    [**Disposable Paper Food Containers**View product](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/disposable-food-containers)
-    [**Bagasse Food Containers**View product](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/bagasse-food-containers)

## Sources

1.  [Decision No 1/2006 of the EC-Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee laying down detailed rules for the application of Decision No 1/95 (A.TR movement certificate)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2006/646/oj/eng) — EUR-Lex, 2006-09-26
2.  [Decision No 1/2025 of the EU-Türkiye Customs Cooperation Committee on the use of A.TR movement certificates issued electronically (OJ L 2025/1239)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1239/oj) — EUR-Lex, 2025-04-24
3.  [Türkiye – customs union and preferential arrangements](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/turkey-customs-unions-and-preferential-arrangements_en) — European Commission, Taxation and Customs Union
4.  [EU–Türkiye Customs Union](https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/eu-turkiye-customs-union) — European Commission, Access2Markets
5.  [Sıkça sorulan sorular: Menşe (A.TR, EUR.1, menşe şahadetnamesi, tedarikçi beyanı)](https://ticaret.gov.tr/gumruk-islemleri/sikca-sorulan-sorular/ticari/mense) — Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade
6.  [TOBB circular: certificates of origin issued and approved only through MEDOS from 8 April 2020](https://files.igmd.org.tr/doc/4042020-135016_mense-sahadetnamesi-elektronik-ortamda-duzenlenmesipdf.pdf) — TOBB (copy published by İGMD), 2020-04-03
7.  [Customs General Communiqué (Customs Procedures) No 148 on issuing and approving A.TR and proof-of-origin documents](https://kpmgvergi.com/yayinlar/mali-bultenler/gumruk/atr-dolasim-belgeleri-ile-mense-ispat-belgelerinin-basimi-dagitimi-duzenlenmesi-ve-onaylanmasina-iliskin-yetki-verilecek-kisi-kurum-kuruluslarin-belirlenmesi-ve-yapilacak-islemler/575) — KPMG Türkiye (summary of Official Gazette No 30429), 2018-05-23
8.  [End of wet-ink signatures on A.TR certificates issued through MEDOS](https://kpmgvergi.com/yayinlar/mali-bultenler/gumruk/atr-dolasim-belgelerine-islak-imza-tatbik-edilmesi-uygulamasina-son-verilmistir/2656) — KPMG Türkiye, 2024-08-19
9.  [Importing goods from Türkiye](https://www.kvk.nl/en/international/importing-goods-from-turkiye) — Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK)
10.  [Harmonized System heading 4823 (incl. 4823.69 and 4823.70)](https://www.wcotradetools.org/en/harmonized-system/2017/en/104823) — World Customs Organization
11.  [Council Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/112/oj) — EUR-Lex
12.  [Incoterms rules](https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/) — International Chamber of Commerce
13.  [DFDS freight routes to and from Türkiye](https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/freight-ferries-and-logistics/offices/turkiye) — DFDS
14.  [Port of Pendik: the Turkish Eurasian corridor (Pendik–Trieste Ro-Ro crossing)](https://www.freightlink.co.uk/knowledge/articles/port-pendik-turkish-eurasian-corridor) — Freightlink

## Frequently asked questions

### ### What is an A.TR certificate?

A.TR is the movement certificate of the EU–Türkiye customs union. It shows that industrial goods are in free circulation in Türkiye or the EU, so they cross without customs duties. It is not a certificate of origin. It must be presented to the customs of the importing country within four months of the date of issue.

### ### Who issues the A.TR in Türkiye?

The exporter, or its customs broker, prepares the A.TR in the electronic system MEDOS. An authorized chamber or exporters' association approves it and Turkish customs endorse it when the goods are exported. Since 2024 the certificate carries a QR code and needs no wet-ink signature; approved exporters can complete it themselves under a simplified procedure.

### ### Do I need an EUR.1 for packaging from Türkiye?

Normally not. Paper, board and molded-fiber packaging and wooden cutlery are industrial products, which travel with an A.TR. Between Türkiye and the EU, EUR.1 proves preferential origin for agricultural products and for coal and steel products, which are outside the customs union.

### ### When is a certificate of origin (menşe şahadetnamesi) needed?

Only when the importing country, the buyer or a bank asks for it, for example under a letter of credit, in a public tender, or when customs must check origin-based measures such as anti-dumping duties. In Türkiye it is issued electronically by chambers of commerce and industry through MEDOS. It proves non-preferential origin and does not give a duty reduction.

### ### Is packaging from Türkiye duty-free in the EU?

Customs duties are zero for industrial goods in free circulation that travel with a valid A.TR. Import VAT is still charged in the EU country of import, national packaging EPR rules apply where the packaging is placed on the market, and anti-dumping or other trade-defence duties can apply depending on where the goods were made.

### ### Which HS codes are typical for food packaging?

Common headings are 4823.69 for paper or paperboard cups, plates and trays, 4823.70 for molded or pressed pulp articles such as bagasse containers, 4819 for cartons, boxes and bags, and 4419 for wooden or bamboo tableware and cutlery. The exact code is decided per item, so confirm it with your customs broker.

![Mahdi Sadough](https://ekoroll.com/images/mahdi-sadough.webp)

Mahdi Sadough Founder & CEO, Ekoroll

Mahdi Sadough is the founder and CEO of Ekoroll. He brings a background in branding, packaging development and product innovation to practical fiber-based packaging systems for foodservice.

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadough/) [About Ekoroll](https://ekoroll.com/en/about)

ekoroll.com/en/blog/atr-eur1-certificate-of-origin-turkey-eu · sales@ekoroll.com · © 2026 Ekoroll

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Source: https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/atr-eur1-certificate-of-origin-turkey-eu. Ekoroll — sales@ekoroll.com. Quotes and samples on request: https://ekoroll.com/en/contact