GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 23, 2026
Admission of Goods into Free Zones
Free zones are legally and physically demarcated areas – typically at seaports, airports, or border crossings – where import duties and most trade measures are suspended until goods are assigned a final customs destination.
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Source: https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/customs-procedures/free-zones_en
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
Free zones are legally and physically demarcated areas – typically at seaports, airports, or border crossings – where import duties and most trade measures are suspended until goods are assigned a final customs destination. Operators use them to store, repackage, or process merchandise without triggering duty liability, making free zones a practical instrument for supply chain optimisation. Unlike the customs warehouse procedure, which applies to individually authorised facilities, a free zone covers a broader geographic area governed by its own supervisory framework. Goods may ultimately be released for free circulation, re-exported, or transferred to another customs procedure. For companies managing cross-border flows, the key advantage is deferring duty payments until actual market entry.
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