A customs exemption is provided for the entry of equipment and vehicles for foreign press organisations and members who will work in Turkey.
The Identity of the Decision
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Decision on Granting Certain Facilities at Customs to Foreign Press and Broadcasting Organisations and Their Foreign National Members |
| Decision number | 87/12201 |
| Date of decision | 16/10/1987 |
| Official Gazette | 4 November 1987 - No. 19624 |
| Basis | Law No. 3283 of 6/5/1986 Art. 2 |
Two Groups, Two Scopes
Arts. 1 and 2 of the Decision govern two different groups:
| Group | Scope |
|---|---|
| 1. Those resident | The professional tools and equipment, their spare parts, office supplies, all kinds of goods for their consumption and use, and vehicles such as cars, minibuses and caravans that foreign press and broadcasting organisations and their foreign national members bring with them or will bring later, under the declarations to be approved, in order to facilitate their settlement in Turkey and the performance of their profession |
| 2. Those on temporary duty | The professional tools and equipment and their spare parts, and vehicles such as cars, minibuses and caravans, that foreign national press members coming to Turkey on temporary duty bring with them or will have brought during the continuation of that duty |
For both groups the consequence is the same: they are exempt from all customs duties, fees and charges.
Who Sets the Limits of the Exemption?
The Decision provides that the limits of the exemption and the principles of its application are to be determined by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Finance and Customs together with the Directorate General of Press and Information.
The Difference Between the Two Groups: Transfer
Its Connection with the Press Card
The customs facility is one of the few concrete facilities open to foreign media members. Two documents are closed to them under the Press Card Regulation: the permanent press card (Art. 14/3) and the press traffic card (Art. 44/3).
We cover them in the permanent card guide and the traffic card guide.
The Same Decision and Field Work
Decision No. 87/12201 is also the basis referred to by Circular No. 1994/53: it provided that the principles to be applied to the work of foreign journalists and radio and television correspondents coming to Turkey to shoot film and photographs, gather news and conduct interviews would be laid down jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Directorate General.
We cover the interview side in the interview circular guide and the filming and research side in the filming and research guide.
Summary
- The professional tools and equipment and vehicles of foreign press organisations and their foreign national members are exempt from customs duties, fees and charges.
- The goods of those resident may be transferred with permission and on payment of duties; those of members on a temporary assignment may not be transferred or sold at all.
- The limits of the exemption are set by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Finance and Customs together with the institution now succeeded by the Directorate of Communications.