Objective
ARTICLE 1**** - The objective of the present Regulation is to set out principles pertaining to the establishment, administration and management of free zones and to the collection of revenues and making of expenditures for and from the Special Account formed in accordance with the Article 7 of Law Nr.3218, together with other matters related to said Special Account.

Scope
ARTICLE 2 **** - In pursuance of the objective mentioned in Article 1. the present regulation covers:

a) points related to the governing and management of free zones,
b) principles which activities involving the free zones are subject to,
c) granting or annulment of operation licenses and keeping of industrial and commercial registers,
d) questions of entry into and exit from a free zone and residence in the zone,
e) working principles in a free zone,
f) principles to govern payments to the Special Account, collection of revenues and expenses to be made from the Special Account,

Within this context, Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade (UFT) may issue circulars/directives with the purpose of ensuring that provisions of the present Regulation are applied in practice.

Legal Basis
ARTICLE 3 ****- The present regulation is prepared in accordance with Law Nr. 4059 on the Organization and Functions of Undersecretariat of Treasury and Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade, and with Articles 7 and 13 of Law Nr. 3218 on Free Zones.

Abbreviations and Definitions
ARTICLE 4 ****- Following abbreviations and definitions have the meanings stated here when used in the present regulation:

a) The Ministry: The Ministry to which Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade is affiliated.
b) UFT: Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade.
c) Directorate General: The Directorate General of Free Zones.
d) Zone Directorate: The Free Zone Directorate.
e) Zone Founder: The organization which provides the infrastructure in cases when the infrastructure of the Free Zone is provided by a domestic or foreign private sector company or by the public sector.
f) Operator: The institution or agency which operates the zone in cases when the Free Zone is operated by a domestic or foreign private sector company or by the public sector.
g) ZFO - Zone Founder and Operator: The agency which develops and operates the Free Zone, in cases when the Zone is developed and operated by the private sector.
h) The Special Account: The special account opened with the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey where revenues of Free Zones are collected i) Operating License: The License permitting one to engage in activities in a Free Zone.
j) Open Space Use Permit: A permit allowing the use of open space in the Free Zone for a restricted period.
k) Entry Permit: The document giving entry to the Free Zone.
l) Special Entry Permit: The special document giving entry into the Free Zones temporarily for the purposes of meetings, visits and the like.
m) Zone: The Free Zone the location and borders of which have been determined by a Decree of the Council of Ministers.
n) User: A real or legal person in possession of an Operating License having a definite work place in the Free Zone.
o) Tariff: The fees to be paid by real persons or legal entities operating in the Free Zone for the space and services provided.
p) Foreign Currency: All kinds of accounts. documents and instruments securing payment in foreign currencies, including cash. dealt in by the Central Bank of Turkey.
r) The Law: Law Nr. 3218 on Free Zones.
s) Regulation(s): The Free Zone Governing Regulation. t) Special Allowance: The allowance that is allocated by the Ministry of Finance in the budget of UFT in order to be used for the expenses concerning Free Zones.

PART TWO
ZONE DIRECTORATES AND ORGANIZATION OF THE ZONE
SECTION ONE
Zone Directorates, Boundaries Of The Zone, Infrastructure And Superstructure And The Protection Thereof

Principles Concerning the Establishment, Functions, Powers and Operation of the Zone Directorate.
ARTICLE 5 - Principles governing the establishment, functions, powers and operation of the Zone Directorate are as specified by the Council of Ministers Decree Nr. 85/9801, dated August 16. 1985. (Council of Ministers Decree Nr. 85/9801 is abolished after the date 20.12.1994 when the “Act Nr. 4059 on Organization Structure and Duties of Undersecretariat of Treasury and Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade” is valid thereafter.

Boundaries Of The Zone
ARTICLE 6 - Boundaries of a zone are those specified in the relevant decree of the Council of Ministers issued for the establishment of that zone.

Maritime areas in wharves and other places allocated by the Port Authority and/or Port Management Directorate for ships and other marine vessels carrying goods into and out of a zone using the docks or by way of lash and limbo by sea. As well as the route used for the transport of goods between such places and the zone in either direction, are regarded as part of the free zone in terms of customs procedures, provided that these areas are under the supervision of the Customs Authority.

Infrastructural Facilities
ARTICLE 7 ****- The construction of infrastructure such as drainage, sewage and treatment systems, roads and water, power and communication facilities and the construction of zone boundaries, steel- yards, depots for smuggled goods, entrance and exit gates and other buildings and installations may be undertaken by relevant Ministries or be contracted to the Operator or ZFO.

If a free zone is established within the boundaries of a public port, airport or other facility, processes and procedures for the provision of infrastructures must be performed by the Directorate General and all necessary structures and facilities made available with due regard for any necessary coordination with and for the consent of all concerned organizations and institutions.

If a free zone is established and operated by a ZFO within the framework of an Establishment and Operation Contract concluded with UFT, the ZFO is obliged to complete within the specified period all construction work on functional units and on all covered areas necessary for conduct of activities inside the area allocated to the zone, and to provide all necessary infrastructure and construction necessary to link in-zone and off-zone infrastructures. The ZFO is also responsible for the promotion of the Zone within the country and abroad, for the leasing of the workplaces to entrepreneurs, for the sale of land on request, provided that the zone is established on private land, and for equipping open areas for sale with infrastructure until payment for the land is made, for supervising the construction of user buildings and for the carrying out other procedures related to the establishment and operation of the zone.

Superstructural Facilities
ARTICLE 8 ***- Land owned by the Treasury or a public institution allocated to a zone can be leased by means of a contract, in part or in whole, by the Directorate General either to the Operator or to the ZFO, for superstructure, or to the real or legal entities that have obtained an Operating License from the Directorate General.

Buildings and other facilities in the zone can either be constructed by the Operator or the ZFO, or by the users. These buildings and facilities can be rented or transferred to other users, or can be sold if the property is owned by the ZFO or the users.

All approvals and supervisory work during the construction period are performed by the Zone Directorate. Zone Directorate may delegate its responsibilities concerning approval and supervisory work to the ZFO. However, construction projects of the facilities with a particular characteristic, are approved by the Directorate General.

Users who are found eligible to receive an Operating License conclude a sales or rental contract with the Operator or ZFO. After the approval of the contract by the Zone Directorate, the Directorate General issues an Operating License; thereafter the users can start their investment activities in the Zone. After preparing their projects and fulfilling their superstructure commitments, users, who are going to construct a building or facility, apply to the Zone Directorate for an Occupation Permit. Granting of an Occupation Permit, marks the end of the investment phase and the beginning of the operation phase.

The project preparation and construction work should be accomplished within the period specified in the Operating License Application Form. This period is included in the operational phase specified in the Operating License. However, in case where the project and the construction work cannot be completed with an acceptable compulsory condition within the stated period, an additional period of time can be granted according to Article 54. Additional time period cannot be included in the period of Operating License.

Users can start their activities (without receiving an occupation permit), in their buildings or in an other rented working place by receiving a temporary occupation permit from the Zone Directorate before the construction of the building or facility is completed on the rented or purchased land. In this case, the operating period deemed to be commenced on the date they have received the temporary occupation permit or rented a covered area.

Superstructure that was built upon rental of an open area, can be transferred to another user by the approval of the General Directorate with the condition of not exceeding the time limit of operating license that was granted to the first user.

In free zones where the land is owned by the Treasury, the buildings and facilities that were constructed by the Operator, ZFO and users are transferred to the Treasury after the cancellation of the Operating License or by the expiration of the Operating License. In principle these buildings and facilities should be transferred in serviceable condition. In this respect, the Operator/ZFO take necessary precautions together with the Zone Directorate.

In free zones where the land is private property, by the expiration of the Operating License of the users who have constructed buildings and facilities on the rented land, a new license can be issued to the name of that user not exceeding the time limit mentioned in the rental contract for the transfer of the superstructure. In case of the expiration of the time limit mentioned in the rental contract, the constructed buildings and facilities are transferred to the ZFO. In case of terminating their activities within the time limit of the Operating License or the cancellation of the Operating License, these users can transfer their right to use of the buildings and facilities to the real or legal persons that will be approved by the General Directorate till the end of the expiration date of their Operating Licenses. Otherwise, buildings and facilities are transferred to the ZFO.

In free zones where the land is private property, the users that are operating in a working place where they have constructed on the land they have purchased, can receive a new Operating License upon the expiry of their Operating License. In case of termination of their activities or cancellation of their Operating Licenses, these users with the approval of the General Directorate can sell their land and the buildings and facilities on the land to another real or legal persons.

The building and construction principles regarding the superstructure to be built in each Zone are determined by the General Directorate. The projects of the superstructure that are to be built are approved by the General Directorate before the Zone commences its operation

Protection of Buildings and Facilities
ARTICLE 9 - The Zone Directorate is responsible for the protection of infrastructural and superstructural facilities and the boundaries of the zone and for ensuring the continuous observation and supervision of any changes that may take place. The operator or the ZFO and the Zone Directorate jointly take all necessary measures to ensure that rented premises and facilities are handed back by the users in a usable condition, and if necessary, to secure the payment of compensation in an amount specified by the Zone Directorate to cover the restoration of such buildings and facilities to their former condition.

SECTION TWO
Fields of Activity, Operating Licenses, Entry Permits And Service Cards.

Fields Of Activity In The Zone
ARTICLE 10 - All industrial, commercial and service operations deemed appropriate by the Supreme Planning Board (SPB) may be conducted in the Free Zone.

Granting Of Operating Licenses
ARTICLE 11 ****- Real persons or legal entities who intend to engage in operations in the Free Zone may submit their Operating License Application Form either directly to the Directorate General or by way of the Zone Directorate or by registered mail in order to obtain an Operating License. Where the application is made by mail, the mailing date of the application form is regarded as the date of submission to the Directorate General.

After the Application Form for Operating License is completed and submitted by one of the above means and the Operating License Application Fee is deposited to the Special Account with the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, the application is considered as filed. After the evaluation of the application, those who are found eligible to be granted an “Operating License” in order to carry out activities in free zones are notified by letter. In the abovementioned official letter the applicant is granted 30 days in order to make a lease or sales contract. The applicant who makes a lease or sales contract in this given time shall have the contract approved by the Zone Directorate and send a copy to the Directorate General. After the delivery of the contract “Operating License” is issued by the Directorate General. Failure to make the contract within this period results in the loss of the right to an Operating License.

The Directorate General may, after evaluating the Application Form for Operating License, reject the application if it is convinced that conditions are not right.

Operating License application is evaluated by taking into consideration the request of the applicant, the type of activity to be conducted, the amount or the investment, and other issues relevant for each zone.

The term of the Operating License, Operating License Application, the principles and fees for other permits are determined by the Directorate General.

Users possessing an Operating License for warehouse activities may store the goods of other users or of real persons or legal entities who are not users once they obtain the approval of their lease contract by the Zone Directorate.

Keeping Of Industrial And Commercial Registers
ARTICLE 12 - Any real persons or legal entities granted an Operating License are registered in the Registration Book at the Registrar of the Zone Directorate prior to operation. The information in the license and the profession and commercial activity to be practiced by the person concerned is entered in this record with accuracy and a commercial or industrial registration number and a Registration Document that features this information are issued to him/her. After the person concerned starts to operate, his annual income and expenditures, results of his balance sheet and profit and loss accounts and the main details of his operations are entered in the records. Each person is obliged to report any changes in his professional and commercial activities to the Zone Directorate and must have these entered in his registration records. Each person is obliged to report or submit to the Registrar the information and documents relating to his annual activities without any need for request, within four months of the end of each calendar year.

With the exception of parts relating to matters such as patents, licenses and know-how, these records of real persons or legal entities operating in the Zone may be inspected at the discretion of the Zone Directorate.

Entry Permits And Service Cards
ARTICLE 13 - Real persons or legal entities holding Operating Licenses, their representatives, employees and workers and persons conducting any kind of business or activity may enter the zone provided that they obtain an Entry Permit from the Zone Directorate. Permission for short-term entry to the Zone may also be given by a Special Entry Document issued by the Zone Directorate.

Entry Permits are issued by the Zone Directorate. Each permit features the title and seal of the Zone Directorate, the date of issue, a photograph of the bearer, his first name and surname, the address of his workplace and the term of the permit. Special Entry Permits do not state the name of the bearer. These documents are issued in different colors and Special Entry Permits are returned to the officials on exit.

The staff of the Zone Directorate and other public agencies or the persons employed by the Operator or ZFO are presented with Service Cards issued by the Zone Directorate, encompassing the same information as contained in the Entry Permit. Such officials must display these cards in order to enter and work in a free zone.

Workers hired on a casual basis by an operator, a ZFO and/or users for construction, maintenance and repair works being carried out during the establishment and operation phases are issued Special Entry Permits upon presentation of their identity cards. In this case such special entry permits issued must correspond to the number of workers. When there is a change in the number of workers employed, cards in excess of the number of workers are taken back and canceled, while new cards are issued if the number of cards falls short of the number of employees.

Temporary Caesura of Operation and Cancellation of Operating Licenses 
ARTICLE 14 ***- a) Free Zones Procedures Form in relation with the exit of goods from the Zone and for the sales of goods in the Zone shall not be put into operation by the Zone Directorate for a period of three months in case of the existence of any of the following circumstances;

1) Not delivering the documents specified by the provisions of the Regulation and documents and information required by the Directorate General and Zone Directorate within a specified period or giving false information,

2) If it is established that a user, his authorized representative or employees have caused damage to the facilities, machinery and equipment of the Zone or to other users in the Zone, in spite of the warning of the Zone Directorate not improving the situation and/or not compensating the damage,

3) If it is established that there has been an act in contravention of the provisions of the rental and/or sales contract with the Operator or ZFO,

4) If it is established that there has been an act in contravention of the written instructions or detriment of the order in the Zone,

5) Not informing of the changes in the Operating License Application Form that were declared and committed.

If the above-mentioned conditions were improved by the user in three months period, the Procedure Forms shall be put into operation again by the Zone Directorate.

b) In case of the existence of any of the following circumstances, the Operating License is canceled by the General Directorate without any warning;

1) If it is confirmed through a written report of the Zone Directorate that the contradictory actions are still being pursued by the user by the end of the period mentioned in paragraph (a),

2) If it is confirmed through subsequent investigations, examinations and inspections that commitments and declarations stated in the Application Form for Operating License are not fulfilled or are proven false,

3) If it is established that tax evasion has taken place with revenues and earnings accruing from activities outside the Zone being declared as income earned in the Zone by uniting the accounting records and/or if false or misleading documents are presented for this purpose,

4) Except where the existence of a state of generally accepted force majeure, not being engaged in any commercial activity within one year,

5) If it is established that the goods entered in or exit out of the Zone is contrary to the legislation, and if it is established that there exists a deficiency or an excess between the inventories and the current stocks,

6) Except where the existence of a state generally accepted force majeure, not completing the project or construction within the time limit committed in the Application Form,

7) If it is established that there has been an act in contravention of the provisions of laws, regulations, communications and circulars.Possessions of any person attempting to continue his activities in the Zone despite an expiration or cancellation of his Operating License by the reasons mentioned above, are not permitted to enter the Zone. Possessions of such a person located in the Zone are subject to liquidation in accordance with Article 52 of the Regulation.

Cancellation Of Entry Permits Special Entry Permits And Service Cards
ARTICLE 15 - Any person whose Operating License is canceled, or any employee of such a person as well as any person in possession of an Entry Permit or a Service Card who engages in any of the actions specified in Article 14, as confirmed by a written report of the Zone Directorate, has his/her Entry Permit or Service Card canceled and the person concerned is notified of this cancellation. In cases when a Special Entry Permit is canceled, it is confiscated by the authorities and the person concerned expelled from the Zone.

Users are obliged to inform the Zone Directorate on the same day when they dismiss an employee. In such cases, the Entry Permit of the person concerned is canceled by the Zone Directorate. However, if such a person finds a new job in the zone, his/her Entry Permit, provided that it has not expired, is returned after the change has been recorded.

Any person whose Entry Permit or Service Card or Special Entry Permit is canceled is expelled from the zone by the police and customs officers and Customs regulations apply to any goods subject to customs duty found on his person, while his possessions in the Zone are subject to the provisions of Article 52 of the Regulation.

SECTION THREE
Maintaining Order And Security In The Zone And Working Conditions

Security
ARTICLE 16 - Zone Directors must communicate their requests concerning security in the zone to relevant offices of the Governor. Governors are responsible for taking special measures for the provision of security services in the zones by the police and for safeguarding the security of the zones by commissioning an adequate number of police and customs officers at the entrance and exit gates and borders of the zone.

Users are also obliged to employ a sufficient number of security guards and to keep the Zone Directorate informed about the employment of at least one such security guard.

Working Conditions
ARTICLE 17 - Users with work premises in the zone and employees in these workplaces are subject to the labor legislation of the Republic of Turkey under the supervision and control of the Zone Directorates.

Principles governing minimum wage and payment of overtime in workplaces within the territory of Turkey also apply to the workplaces of the ZFO or the Operator and of users in a zone.

Labor Contracts concluded between employers and employees in the zone are to be made in three copies, one of which is submitted to the Zone Directorate.

Principles for the manner and procedures by which this article is enforced are given in directives/circulars issued by the Directorate General.

Work Permits For Foreigners
ARTICLE 18 - Users must apply directly to the Zone Directorate or the Directorate General to obtain Work Permits for foreign managers and qualified personnel that they need to employ in the Zone.

The application is made by completing and signing the printed forms prepared for obtaining a Work Permit and their attachments.

The application is assessed by the Directorate General in coordination with relevant authorities and a Work Permit is granted if the application is found appropriate.

Users are jointly responsible for the actions and behavior of their employees within the zone and for any harm that they may inflict on third parties or to the zone during the course of their work.

Residence Permit/Night Work Permit
ARTICLE 19 - Residence in the zone is prohibited. However, for security considerations, Residence/Night Work permits may be issued by the Zone Directorate who must keep the security and customs administration informed of this in writing, to the security and customs officers and security guards who are charged with the control and security of the zone, to those who have to reside in the zone due to the specific nature of their jobs and to those who have to work overnight following the workday in the zone. The residence/Night work permit granted for the zone is restricted and is valid only for the individuals described here. In no way or manner does this permit cover the relatives or families of said officials.

Residence/Night Work Permits are canceled by the Zone Directorate with immediate effect in the event of the cancellation of corresponding Operating License, Entry Permit or Service Card.

Arrangements concerning the issue of residence permits for reasons other than those mentioned above may only be made by the Ministry to which UFT is subordinated.

Working Hours And Control Of Entries And Exits
ARTICLE 20 - Business may be conducted in the zone 24 hours a day and 7 days a week However, in principle, the work carried out in the zone, loading and unloading and all kinds of customs procedures are to be performed during official working hours. Where a written request is made for work outside the official working hours or during holidays, related to customs, permission to carry out such work may be granted following the approval of the Zone Directorate, the consent of the Customs Administration and the deposit of a sum for overtime work.

The ZFO, or the Operator is therefore obliged to have the necessary personnel on duty in the zone outside official hours of business upon the request of the Zone Directorate. The Zone Directorate takes all necessary measures in connection with the determination and announcement of the official hours of work.

Persons seeking entry at the gates of a zone must be able to present an Entry Permit, a Service Card or a Special Entry Permit upon request by customs and security officers. Anyone unable to present one of these documents is denied entry to the Zone.

In order to prevent goods from entering or leaving the zone without customs formalities, vehicles and persons may be searched at the gates of the zone by the customs officers if necessary. Workplaces and vehicles of the users may also be searched upon request by the Zone Directorate.

Social Security And Social Welfare Principles
ARTICLE 21 - Social security legislation of the Republic of Turkey applies both to users operating in the zone and to employees -including foreign nationals- who are in their service under a labor contract. However, in cases when there is an agreement between Turkey and any other country regarding social security, provisions of such an agreement also apply. Social insurance payments to the Social Security Organizations are payable in either foreign currency or Turkish Liras. Social security payments to beneficiaries are made by these organizations in Turkish Liras.

Competent Authority For Communal Services In The Zone
ARTICLE 22 - Users operating in a Zone and those supplying them with auxiliary services apply to competent officers of the ZFO, or the Operator for the provision of paid services such as electricity, gas and fuel supplies, communication services, transportation and public transport, cleaning of workplaces or their surrounds, overcoming of cleaning difficulties and solution of health problems, and for the supply of services such as first aid and ambulances in the event of industrial accidents and illness.

The Zone Directorate keeps a watch on these services to ensure that they are provided in a proper and satisfactory manner and issues written cautionary instructions.

Keeping Books And Records
ARTICLE 23 - With a view to governing operations in a zone in an orderly manner, the ZFO or the operator and users are required to maintain their statutory books in Turkish, to supply information and documents requested by the competent authorities and officers duly authorized by the Zone Directorate and the Directorate General in a timely manner and to keep their books, records and other documents available for inspection by these authorities. In no way or by no means may they enter into their account records any accounts concerning activities carried out outside the zone.

The Operator or the ZFO and users are obliged to use the special invoices specified by the Directorate General. The Operator or ZFO and users may use their own invoices and commercial books after having them approved by the Zone Directorate prior to the beginning of the accounting year.

SECTION FOUR
The Operator Or The Zone Founder And Operator

The Operating Or Establishment And Operating Contracts With The Operator Or ZFO
ARTICLE 24 - A zone may either be operated within the framework of an Operation Contract by a Company established on the basis of a decision by the Council of Ministers or established and operated under an Establishment and Operation Contract, again by a Company established on the basis of a decision by the Council of Ministers.

In the first case described above, the contract is named the Operation Contract and the company authorized is the Zone Operator, whereas in the second case the contract is labeled the Establishment and Operation Contract and the company is the ZFO.

The contracts determining the way in which the Operator or the ZFO is to operate state the financial and administrative obligations of the companies as specified in the Regulation as well as principles for their management and supervision.

Financial, Administrative And Service Obligations Of The Operator Or The ZFO
ARTICLE 25 - Financial, administrative and service obligations of the Operator or the ZFO are stated below:

a) If the land delineated as the Free Zone is in the ownership of the Treasury or a public institution and is allocated to the Operator by UFT through by means of an Operation Contract, obligations of the Operator are specified in the contract.
If the Operator of the Zone is entrusted with buildings belonging to the Treasury and with the management of buildings and facilities built by users to automatically revert to the Treasury upon the expiry of the Operating Licenses of the users, the content of the general and special conditions for leases are specified in detail in the Operation Contract signed by the Directorate General and the Operator. Where users have built buildings and facilities in the zone but have their Operating Licenses expire and thus ask to rent the same buildings and facilities, the operator accords preferential treatment to these users, provided that they renew their Operating Licenses.

b) The ZFO may not seek payment of construction costs or rent for buildings which it builds for the use of the Zone Directorate, the Security and Customs Administrations and other institutions that may be necessary. However where the Zone is established on land owned by the Treasury or by a public institution, the ZFO is not obliged to pay rent for the land required for infrastructure, entry-exit gates and roads, internal roads, green areas, areas occupied by the buildings and facilities used by the Zone Directorate, Security and Customs units and other administrative bodies or for the land required for the distribution of infrastructural services such as electricity, water and natural gas.

c) The Operator or the ZFO is responsible for maintenance and repair work arising from the destruction or deterioration of the infrastructural facilities in the zone the management of which is entrusted to it through an Operation or Establishment and Operation Contract.

d) The Operator or the ZFO is obliged to fulfill the functions specified in the present Regulation as well as to carry out other works and services envisaged by the Operation or Establishment and Operation Contract that it has signed with UFT.

Powers And Functions Of The Operator Or The ZFO
ARTICLE 26 - The powers and functions of the Operator or the ZFO are stated below:

a) To operate the zone in accordance with the provisions of the Operation or Establishment and Operation Contract signed with UFT. Where it is specified in the Contract that the public sector does not provide the infrastructure, to construct infrastructural facilities in the zone and to lease and/or sell construction areas in conformity with the parcellation plan to a sufficient number of users,

b) Within the framework of the principles of the Operation or Establishment and Operation Contract, to receive the applications of users concerning their activities, to draw up with the users rent contracts for the operation of depots, warehouses, sheds and bonded warehouses and service contracts to provide or arrange for the provision under its supervision, of shipping port and other services that users may require in the zone, and to finalize rent contracts that have not been rejected within three working days by the Zone Directorate, to whom a copy of each draft contract is sent, to inform the applicant in the case of rejection by the Zone Directorate and to collect advance fees, rents and deposits in accordance with the contracts signed.

c) To include in the contracts drawn up with the users provisions to ensure that users take safety and hygienic precautions in the areas they have rented and elsewhere, to prevent any changes being made without permission, to prevent any contravention of the working practices and conditions stipulated by the Free Zone Legislation and by circulars/directives taking place in depots, warehouses, sheds and bonded warehouses and hence carefully to safeguard order in the zone.

d) To obtain the information and documents that users are required to supply to the Zone Directorate, the Port, Airport, Customs and Security Authorities and other public institutions,

e) To take the necessary measures for the uninterrupted supply of electricity, water, gas, fuel and communication services and to coordinate with relevant public and private organizations to making arrangements for the collection of charges and their payment to the appropriate bodies.

f) To insure all buildings and facilities leased in the zone against fire, and to coordinate as necessary with the local public institutions to ensure the availability of fire prevention and water pumping equipment and an adequate number of fire fighting vehicles and tools to enforce general safety measures and to establish the first aid and life-saving services required in the case of injury in industrial and other accidents or of sudden illness.

g) To identify any person responsible for damages to the infrastructure or to other property in the zone and to ensure that such damage is fully compensated for.

h) To meet the demand for the transportation of goods and people in the zone, to construct the planned parks and green areas and ensure their maintenance and preservation, to organize places for public use such as restaurants, cafeterias, kiosks etc. and to operate them or arrange for their operation by third parties and to solve all cleaning and general hygiene problems of the area.

Relations With Users
ARTICLE 27 ****- Users that want a service to be performed for themselves in connection with their activities in the zone fill in the Free Zone Procedure Form and submit it to the Zone Directorate. They deposit the related fee to the Special Account opened with the banks for collection of revenues of the Zones, attach one of the two copies of the receipt for the payment to the other copy of the Free Zones Procedure Form and have it delivered to the Zone Directorate and submit these copies to the officials of the Operator or the ZFO. Where no fee needs to be paid to the Special Account, the application procedure is completed when remaining copies of the Free Zone Procedure Form are obtained back from the Zone Directorate and delivered to the Operator or the ZFO.

The Free Zone Procedure Form is in the force of a service contract specifying the work relationship between the User and the Operator or the ZFO This contract comes into effect when the form is signed by the officials of the Operator or the ZFO and a copy is returned to the user.

Subject to a charge, users may request that the Operator or the ZFO provide services such as the loading, unloading, transport and storage of goods which are in the zone or entering or leaving the zone. Where the Operator or the ZFO is unable to supply the machinery and equipment that users require for their activities, the latter may acquire them from other users operating in the zone subject to the permission of the Zone Directorate and the coordination of the Operator or the ZFO The Operator or the ZFO may not seek any charge for such services other than the fee for the coordination services that s/he provides.

Where the Free Zone Procedures Form of a user involves a request for a service which must be performed by a private sector agency, the user, after acquiring preliminary permission from the Zone Directorate, pays the service charge to the Operator or the ZFO and submits one of the two copies of the receipt to the officials of the Operator or the ZFO for attachment to the copy of the Free Zone Procedure Form which is available at the Zone Directorate.

Tariffs and conditions pertaining to services performed by the Operator or the ZFO are determined by the Directorate General.

SECTION FIVE
Customs Duty And Tax Exemptions And Incentives

Customs Duty Exemptions
ARTICLE 28 ****- Free Zones lie outside the customs boundaries. Legislation regarding customs liabilities does not apply in Free Zones. Although the Customs Law and related legislation is enforced at the entrance and exit points, no customs duties, charges, fees or similar financial obligations, with the exception of the Special Account levy, is applied to goods entering the Zone or being sent to other countries from the zone.

Export and import transactions from a zone to Turkey made under the Legislation on the Promotion of Exports are subject to the provisions of the current Directive on the Promotion of Exports.

Tax Exemptions And Other Incentives
ARTICLE 29 - Provisions of legislation concerning taxes, duties, charges and foreign exchange obligations are not applicable in Free Zones.

Earnings and revenues of real persons or legal entities resident in Turkey who are wholly or partially liable for taxation which arise from their activities in the zone are exempt from income and corporation tax on the condition that they are documented in accordance with the foreign exchange legislation and that they are transferred to Turkey.

The Operator or the ZFO and users may benefit from the incentives determined by the Council of Ministers, during the investment and production phases.

No real person or legal entity without an Operation License is entitled to the incentives applicable in the Free Zones.

PART THREE
GOODS IN THE ZONE, RENT AND SERVICE CONTRACTS AND TARIFFS
SECTION ONE
Exported And Imported Goods And Transit Goods Haulage

Exported Goods
ARTICLE 30 - Goods that are sent to the zone from Turkey are treated according to the Foreign Trade Regime and are considered exported. The Foreign Trade Regime does not apply to transactions between a zone and other countries or the transactions among Free Zones. Goods and services may freely be sent from a zone to any destination outside Turkey.

A fee is charged in accordance with article 41/b (2) on goods that are exported from Turkey to the zone and returned to Turkey within the period determined by the foreign trade regime.

Goods of Turkish origin costing under $500 per shipment brought into the zone by the Zone Directorate, or by the Operator/ZFO or a user with the permission of the Zone Directorate, may be exempted from export procedures upon request.

For goods exported from the zone, Certificates of Origin, A.TR. Movement Certificate and EUR.1 Certificates may be issued by local Chambers, on the basis of an official letter of the Zone Directorate without any conditions as regards membership of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry having to be met, in accordance with the provisions of Customs Laws and related Customs Regulations, the EEC Regulation on Movement Certificates published in the Official Gazette Nr. 16515 dated 10.1.1979 and the EUR.1 Regulation on Movement Certificates published in the second edition of the Official Gazette Nr. 21235 of 22.5.1992, respectively.

The Customs Administration in a zone endorses A.TR Movement Certificates and EUR.1. Certificates submitted to it and grants visas after checking the goods registered in these.

Following points apply to matters related to the origin of goods in a zone and the issue of A.TR Movement Certificates and EUR.1 Certificates:

In accordance with Article 15 of the Customs Law, although they are within the political territory of Turkey, the Free Zones are considered to be outside the customs boundaries in terms of tax obligations. Goods produced in a zone are classified as Products of Turkish origin with respect to the country of origin criteria given in the Customs Law, namely the completely produced product condition, which describes products obtained in Turkey, and the sufficient transformation condition, which refers to those products the inputs of which are of foreign or unknown origin but which merit being treated as goods of Turkish origin due to the significance of processes and modifications which they have undergone in Turkey.

Under Article 2 of the Additional Protocol which lays down conditions, procedures, orders and time limits for the Transitional Stage referred to in Article 4 of the Ankara Agreement establishing an Association between Turkey and the European Economic Community, goods of third country origin, for which import procedures are completed, taxes or charges with equivalent effect to customs duty are paid, such that no full or partial repayment of taxes and charges is effected, are deemed to be in free circulation. A.TR. Movement Certificates issued for such goods which are kept in a zone in raw, semi-processed and processed form or which acquire a national character through being re-processed and becoming part of a new product in a zone are granted visas by the Free Zones Customs Administrations irrespective of any changes occurring in their Customs Tariff position numbers.

In conformity with Article 3 of the Additional Protocol, A.TR. Movement Certificates may be issued for goods obtained in Turkey or in the Community which incorporate items of third country origin not in free circulation, in Turkey or in the Community subject to the collection by the Free Zone Customs Administration in the exporting country, Turkey, in accordance with decisions number 2/72 and 3/72 of the Association Council, of the Compensatory Levy on such third country origin goods, envisaged in the Common Customs Tariff. A.TR, Movement Certificates for goods in question are granted visas by the Free Zone Customs Administration.

Certificates of Origin and EUR.1 Certificates are issued for goods acquiring Turkish origin through the fulfillment in Free Zones in Turkey of the requirements specified by the provisions of the Additional Protocol B of the Agreement concluded between Turkey and the EFTA States. The EUR.1 certificates are granted visas by the Free Zone Customs Administration.