New Regulation on Express Cargo Transportation

New Regulation on Express Cargo Transportation: Air Cargo to Be Handled Exclusively at Airport Customs

Important updates to express cargo processes have been introduced through an amendment to the communique on customs procedures for goods transported by post and express cargo, published by the Ministry of Trade. The regulation published in the Official Gazette has clarified the rules particularly for air cargo transportation and consignment shipments.

Where will air express cargo procedures be carried out?

With the new regulation, express cargo transportation procedures carried out by air will henceforth be handled exclusively at airport customs directorates. This change aims to consolidate procedures and ensure uniform application in practice.

Where will road express cargo procedures be carried out?

Road transportation procedures will be carried out at customs directorates to be designated by the Directorate General of Customs. Authorized points for road operations will thus also be centrally determined.

One-year rule for consignment goods

Goods sent on consignment by post or express cargo are now required to be definitively sold within 1 year from the date of export. It is explicitly stated that this period will not be extended. Consignment goods for which the sale is not completed within 1 year will be returned to Turkey under customs legislation.

What happens when unsold goods are returned?

A simplified customs declaration will be issued for goods to be returned, and a proforma invoice will be required as an attachment. Since this detail directly affects document preparation in the return process, it is critical for companies in their operational planning.

How will penalties be applied?

According to the regulation, a separate penalty will be applied for each transport document. However, if the correction subject in more than one transport document relates to the same data field, the penalty proceedings will be applied solely through the relevant simplified customs declaration.

Practical recommendation for companies

Turning the tracking of the one-year sales deadline for consignment shipments into a checklist will reduce both the risk of return shipments and penalty and operational costs. It would be particularly beneficial for companies that regularly export via express cargo to establish a tracking system that allows them to monitor the shipment to sales closure process on a single screen.