On 21 November 2016, H.E. Mr. Peiman Seadat, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic to the Kingdom of Belgium, and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as well as to the European Union, deposited his country’s Instrument of Accession to the Istanbul Convention with the WCO Secretary General Dr. Mikuriya.

The Convention on Temporary Admission (Istanbul Convention) is an international instrument that combines all existing conventions on temporary admission. The ATA system, which is an integral part of the Convention, allows the free movement of goods across frontiers and their temporary admission into a Customs territory with relief from duties and taxes. These goods are covered by a single document known as the ATA carnet that is secured by an international guarantee system.

With this system the international business community enjoys considerable simplification of Customs formalities as the ATA carnet also serves as a goods declaration at export, transit and import. The ATA carnet is now the document most widely used by the trade for international operations involving the temporary admission of goods.

The ATA system facilitates the flow of goods at borders, enabling Customs authorities to concentrate scarce resources elsewhere. Not only does the system facilitate trade, it also contributes to more efficient border management.

The Convention entered into force on 27 November 1993.