G/LIC/Q/TUR/8  
 
31 October 2014  
(14-6321)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 REPLIES BY TURKEY TO THE QUES TIONS FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION 
(G/LIC/Q/TUR/7) REGARDING TURKEY’S IMPORT LICENSING  
NOTIFICATION (G/LIC/N/3/TUR/13) 
 
The following communication, dated 27 October 2014, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Turkey. 
 
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Additional explanations for demonstrating that the approval of the Turkish Sugar 
Authority is not intended to restrict the quantity or value of importation of goods 
 
Turkish Sugar Authority issues a "certificate of conformity" for each importation procedure of high 
intensity sweeteners (HIS) in accordance with 2014/4 Import Communiqué. The approval process 
in no way intends  to apply any restriction on quantity or value of imports  but aims at monitoring 
the impact of HIS importation on the Turkish sugar market, for statistical purposes.  
 Whether "the customs entrance  manifest" means most proper ly "customs declaration"  
 
Yes, "customs entrance manifest" means "customs declaration". 
 Additional information on the Surveillance License Regime  
 
Import surveillance system is based on Council of Ministers Decision No. 2004/7304 published in the Turkish Official Gazette dated 29/05/2004 No . 25476. The purpose of the import surveillance 
system is to closely monitor and to collect specific data regarding imported products. 
 Data collected during surveillance is crucial for the evaluation of domestic producers’ claim on injury that might lead Turkey to initiate an investigation of safeguard or anti-dumping. 
Additionally, there is also recourse to surveillan ce against imports of products subject to a trade 
remedy measure just to monitor the possibility of circumvention.   
In order to ensure that the surveillance regime co uld be operated with the least effect on trade, 
not all of import transactions of a product category but only some which may cause injury via dumping or circumvention are subject to surveillance.  
 
The requests of importers for the surveillance documents, which are issued by the General Directorate of Imports, Ministry of Economy, are met without a limitation on the quantity or price 
criteria. The issuance of documents is free of charge.  
 
Surveillance communiqués are published in Turk ish Official Gazette and information on the 
surveillance mechanism can be obtained from th e Ministry of Economy, General Directorate of 
Imports. 
 Additional Information on the Import Licens e Regime for old, second hand, renovated 
goods 
 Importation of old, second hand and renovated goods is subject to license regime in order to ensure that these goods meet certain health, safety and technical standards so as to protect 
human, animal or plant life or health, as was guaranteed under the Article XX of the GATT.  G/LIC/Q/TUR/8 
 
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  In line with the Turkish Import Regime Decree, which was published in the Official Gazette dated 
31/12/1995 (number 22510), the "importation of old, used, renovated, faulty and obsolete goods" is subject to the authorization of the Ministry of Economy.   
Additional Information on the Certificate of  Conformity Regime for supplying non-fuel 
petroleum products from domestic and foreign sources  
"The Communiqué on Means and Methods of Supply of Petroleum Products except Liquid Fuels 
from Domestic and Foreign Sources" was published and enacted, in line with the Prime Ministerial 
Order 2012/19 which was published in the official journal No. 28390 on 23 August 2012.   
The above mentioned Communiqué also covers domestically produced products, without aiming to 
restrict imports. Domestic and foreign supply of petroleum products, which can potentially be used in liquid fuel adulteration and which are listed in the annex of the declaration, is subject to a 
permit. To supply these products, specification of these products in the capacity report of the 
permit applicants is a prerequisite. The amounts in the capacity reports and amounts consumed in last two years are taken into account for calculation of permitted amounts. As a result, no 
restrictions are applied to the consumption capacities stated in the capacity report. Permits are 
allocated in installments to the applicants, according to the amounts stated in the capacity reports or the amounts consumed in last two years. The applicants are allowed to make consecutive applications in case they are low on or out of products, provided that their imports or domestic 
purchase do not exceed the amounts stated in their capacity reports. 
 Enforcement of the above-mentioned Communiqué is under the responsibility of the Energy Market 
Regulatory Authority, and the documents required for permit applications are posted on the 
website of the Authority ( http://www.epdk.gov.tr/ ). The applications are to be made online 
through the portal on the website, via electronic signature. 
 
 
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