EU/Turkey: towards mutual recognition of OAS statutes
On 11 December last, the European Commission communicates on the future decision on the mutual recognition of the approved Economic Operator (OAS) status programmes between the EU and its historical partner, Turkey.
As a reminder, the OAS certification meets strict standards established by the World Customs Organization (SAFE) and concerns companies that meet these standards in terms of security, customs compliance and risk management in their international activities.
The status consists of two components:
- Customs simplification (OAS C)
- Safety/security component (OAS S)
Companies recognised as OAS S can claim mutual recognition of status with other partner countries.
This international recognition of the OAS status is based on mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) signed between the European Union and other countries or regions allowing the EU-certified OAS companies to benefit from similar customs facilities abroad, and vice versa.
In concrete terms, this means:
– Less import/export controls in partner countries Local customs authorities give increased confidence to OAS companies, thereby reducing inspections and delays.
– Access to accelerated procedures For example, in the United States, a European OAS company can benefit from the C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) programme, which offers comparable benefits.
– Harmonisation of standards : the criteria for security and compliance are aligned between the signatory countries, which simplifies the management of international flows.
To date, the EU has concluded and implemented mutual recognition agreements with Canada, China, Japan, Moldova, Norway, Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Official Journal of the EU 2025/2516 introduced Turkey as the next country with which mutual recognition will be effective during 2026.