OOCL - Turkey Customs 24 hour Advanced Manifest Regulation

OOCL would like to inform our customers that Turkey Customs has announced a new 24 hour Advanced Manifest Regulation, to take effect on January 1, 2012. The rule requires all ocean carriers to submit a list of customs-defined manifest data to Turkey Customs at least 24 hours prior to cargo loading at Port Of Load. The regulation is applicable to all import and transshipped cargo to/ via Turkey.

With the information provided for maritime shipments, we would like to highlight the following details regarding the implementation of the summary declaration submissions:

• New applications will be effective from January 1, 2012. All Entry Summary Declaration and summary declarations shall be lodged electronically with the Turkish Customs.

• Mediterranean and Black Sea ports will be evaluated as Short Sea and the deadline for summary declaration submission is at least two hours before arrival at the first port in Turkish Customs territory.

• Other ports other than the Mediterranean and Black Sea ones will be evaluated as Deep Sea and the deadline for Entry Summary Declaration is at least 24 hours before commencement of loading in each foreign load port(s).

• Empty containers must be placed in Entry Summary Declaration and summary declarations.

• Description of goods must be submitted with six digits harmonized codes.

• Transhipments via Turkey is subject to summary declarations.

• Consignee tax number is required.

To comply with this regulation, we request our customers to provide complete and accurate shipping instructions before the closing time which is similar to what is currently in place for other Advance Manifest procedures required for EU countries. This information will be published on our website and also available in our Booking Acknowledgements/Confirmations document.

The following hyperlink is the official announcement issued by Turkish Customs (only available in Turkish):

http://www.gumruk.gov.tr/tr-tr/anasayfa/Sayfalar/default.aspx

A translated copy is found here.

OOCL will continue to update customers if there are any further developments on this customs initiative.

Should you have any inquiries relating to this regulation, please feel free to contact our local customer service representatives. Thank you.