On 18 September 2024, the World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General, as the depository of the Convention on Temporary Admission (Istanbul Convention), received the Instrument of accession of Kosovo. The Ambassador of Kosovo presented the Instrument of Accession to Belgium in the presence of the Director General of Kosovo Customs.
The Istanbul Convention is an international instrument that combines all existing conventions on temporary admission. The Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission (ATA) System, integral to the Convention, allows the free movement of goods across frontiers and their TA into a Customs territory with relief from duties and taxes. These goods are covered by a document known as the ATA Carnet, 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 TA 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, but it also contributes to more efficient border management.