Iran is known primarily for its oil and natural gas deposits. At the same time, it lies in an unstable region of the world. For political reasons, sanctions have been imposed on this country that significantly affect the ability to import and export from Iran. What are the current procedures related to checks to this country? And what is worth paying attention to when importing or exporting – check for yourself in the article below.
The EU has imposed a number of economic sanctions on Iran against violations of international law by the country. In this way, they want to encourage government officials to change their behavior. The main part of the sanctions was imposed in cooperation with the UN, but the EU also applied its own sanctions against Iran for human rights violations.
Initially, four UN Security Council resolutions, issued almost every year from 2006 to 2010, entered into force. The sanctions defined in these documents were also implemented by the European Union through appropriate legislation. This means that Poland also participates in the application of these restrictions, among others, in foreign trade.
Talks between Iran and two groups of states are ongoing. The first one is called E3 and it includes the most important European countries: France, Germany and Great Britain. At the same time, the EU + 3 group, represented by the European Union, China, Russia and the United States, is negotiating. These talks are aimed at the gradual lifting of sanctions against Iran’s nuclear policy. At the same time, a guarantee is to be obtained that the Iranian nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful.
Based on the findings of both these groups, it was possible to implement a comprehensive action plan. As part of it, since 2015, exceptions to the applicable sanctions have been introduced, and some of them have already been lifted. All sanctions are to be lifted automatically eight years after the approval of the comprehensive action plan. So there is still some year left until the end of the UN resolutions related to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
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Lifting UN sanctions is only part of the restrictions imposed on Iran by the European Union. It has introduced its own sanctions related to human rights violations. They mainly concerned the arms trade and goods that can be used for repercussions. However, telecommunications equipment was also banned from exporting to Iran.
With the signature of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, most of the sanctions imposed by the EU also expired.
Iran complies with agreements made, and the country’s nuclear weapons are mostly peaceful. This resulted in the lifting of most of the restrictions imposed by the UN and the EU. Importantly, not all difficulties have been completely removed. Traces of previously imposed penalties are still in the regulations and may hinder the import and export of goods to this country.
Moreover, as Europe and the United Nations abandoned their sanctions, the United States stepped in with its own sanctions. This shows how severe the political game is about the Middle East. The whole thing is even more complicated in the context of the rivalry between the US and China and the war in Ukraine.
The situation is extremely dynamic. Employees of the Embetim Customs Agency keep abreast of all developments and oversee laws relating to Iran. Although the whole issue is primarily political, it also significantly affects economic issues – especially regarding exports and imports.
Such dynamic changes cause great difficulties in planning foreign trade with Iran. If you do not want to be surprised by the current situation at the border, it is worth employing our specialists and trusting their work.
When exporting goods from Poland to Iran, the safest route is through Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. A faster route through Ukraine is dangerous due to the ongoing conflict there, so carriers avoid it. Transit through a large number of countries means more border crossing points. Fortunately, most of the transit countries (except Turkey) belong to the European Union, which allows you to use two transit procedures. Common NCTS and international TIR procedure available to EU countries. However, their use still requires the lodging of a security for the amount of customs obligations that may arise.
The goods usually leave Poland on the basis of the NCTS common transit procedure. Leaving the EU zone is associated with the procedure of exporting goods from the EU, which requires the submission of appropriate documents. It is also necessary to complete the current transit procedure. From then on, the goods may move in transit (via Turkey) under the terms of the TIR international convention. A separate customs clearance to Iran is undertaken at the Turkish-Iranian border. On its basis, the customs duties that must be paid will be calculated.
The situation is similar with the import to Poland of goods from Iran. First, it is necessary to submit all the required documents at the border crossing with Turkey. Upon entry into Bulgaria, the goods are transferred to the EU customs zone. From this point on, you can end the international TIR procedure and use the simplified internal NCTS procedure. Goods coming from outside the EU to Poland must also obtain the EU customs status. However, this happens only in Poland, together with the notification of the goods with the required documents. On this basis, customs and tax duties are calculated.
When making a customs declaration in Poland or Iran, you must have:
It is also worth having transport documents related to previous procedures carried out and a list of packages, specifying the contents of each package (if the transport involves many packed items).
Of course, you must also complete the appropriate declaration of goods for customs clearance. This can be done over the internet. It will be used to calculate the customs and tax fees that must be paid and the supporting document to be presented at the border.
In some cases, the goods are not marketed in Iran, but only serve to introduce a new product. Such a situation may involve exhibitions or the transport of patterns and samples. In such a situation, the use of temporary importation of goods to a given country is used. However, the related procedures are often complicated and time-consuming. That is why many countries signed the agreement and introduced the ATA carnet. It is a simplified procedure used in the case of temporary import of goods into one of the countries signed under the document.
However, ATA carnets cannot be used for all goods. For example, they are not issued at all for foodstuffs and goods intended for sale, processing, modernization or repair. The pass is additionally valid for only one year. Exceeding this deadline is associated with customs duties. Although this document may not be extended, in exceptional circumstances you can get a new subscription for another 12 months.
The ATA carnet can be obtained in Warsaw, at the Polish Chamber of Commerce. To obtain such a document, please provide:
The cost of such a document is PLN 580. Its subsequent copies (for subsequent shipments as part of the same event) cost PLN 145. The same should be paid for the document correction. In some cases, it will also be required to provide a security in the amount of customs duties.
The application is registered at the Polish Chamber of Commerce or via a courier.
The dynamic situation in the Middle East and the large number of necessary documents cause difficulties in import clearance to Iran. Fortunately, you can use the help of specialists working at the Embetim Customs Agency. They follow the situation in this country on an ongoing basis and specialize in export clearance from Iran to Poland. They will be happy to help in completing all formalities, and also show you how to optimally carry out the transport of goods, so that the costs are as low as possible. Call us and see for yourself how we can help you with customs clearance to Iran.
The Middle East has been politically unstable in recent decades. For this reason, Iran began work on nuclear weapons, which translated into the imposition of sanctions by the United Nations. Large oil and gas deposits additionally cause political turmoil around the region. This contributes to the complexity of customs procedures, but with the help of specialists, there will be no problem with the smooth crossing of the border of this country.
The ATA carnet is valid for the temporary importation of goods to Iran. Therefore, it cannot be applied to the export of goods destined for trade to Iran. The ATA carnet significantly simplifies the procedure of temporary import of goods to fairs and exhibitions. It is valid for one year and it is imperative that you export goods during this time. In exceptional circumstances, the pass may be replaced with a new document, also valid for 12 months.