GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Free Circulation
Customs agents apply for release for free circulation when imported goods are to remain permanently within a customs territory – such as the EU or Switzerland – following payment of all import duties and fulfilment of applicable legal requirements.
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Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32013R0952
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
Customs agents apply for release for free circulation when imported goods are to remain permanently within a customs territory – such as the EU or Switzerland – following payment of all import duties and fulfilment of applicable legal requirements. This procedure marks the definitive conclusion of the import clearance process. Unlike suspensive procedures such as transit or inward processing, where the customs debt is merely deferred, release for free circulation terminates customs supervision entirely. From that point, the goods are fully subject to the domestic market regulations, excise duties, and product standards of the destination territory. In EU law, the procedure is governed by the Union Customs Code (UCC); in Switzerland, the relevant provisions are set out in the Customs Act.
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