Latest information on transporting humanitarian aid to Turkey

Following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, many aid organisations, municipalities, associations and private initiatives are currently organising shipments of humanitarian aid to the affected areas. In this context, important information about transporting humanitarian aid is summarised below:

Road haulage law / market access

In principle, according to the German-Turkish agreement on the cross-border movement of persons and goods by road, a bilateral transit permit is required for carriage to Turkey. Exceptions can be found in Article 7. For example, according to Article 7(1)(m), the carriage of medical supplies to provide aid (in emergency situations) does not require a permit.

In addition, according to Section 2(1) of the cost regulation for road haulage, issuing permits for the carriage of

medicine,
medical devices,
equipment
and other aid

is free of charge if these goods are intended to provide aid in emergency situations.

The permit issuing office of the Government of Upper Palatinate is responsible for issuing bilateral permits (Turkey).

For the section of the route in the territory of EU member states which are exclusively in transit (not the member state where loading and unloading takes place), the following applies to the carriage of goods to Turkey:
Article 1(5)(e) of Regulation (EC) No. 1072/2009 stipulates that the carriage of medicine, medical devices and equipment and other goods intended to provide aid in emergency situations (particularly in the case of natural disasters) as well as unladen trips carried out in connection with this do not require a Community permit and are exempt from any kind of carriage authorisation requirement.

HGV tolling

In Germany, no tolls must be paid for the transport of donated food, clothes, blankets etc. You can find more information on the requirements for this exemption from tolls and its practical implementation (proofs, deactivating the OBU, possible registration of vehicles with Toll Collect for a limited period of time) in this fact sheet.

Please note that buses and coaches are generally not subject to tolling in accordance with section 1(2)(1) of the Federal Trunk Road Toll Act (BFStrMG).