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Information for Visitors concerning the occupied areas of Cyprus



Show details for A .IMPORTANT NOTICESA .IMPORTANT NOTICES
Show details for B. CAUTION FOR FOREIGN CITIZENSB. CAUTION FOR FOREIGN CITIZENS
Show details for C. RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS ON VESSELS CALLING ILLEGALLY AT PORTS IN THE OCCUPIED AREAS C. RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS ON VESSELS CALLING ILLEGALLY AT PORTS IN THE OCCUPIED AREAS OF CYPRUS
Hide details for D. RELEVANT REFERENCES ON CROSSING POINTS – «GREEN LINE» REGULATIONSD. RELEVANT REFERENCES ON CROSSING POINTS – «GREEN LINE» REGULATIONS

Relevant references on Crossing Points – «Green Line» Regulations



Crossing Points – «Green Line» Regulations
Last updated 15.04.2014

1. Introduction
Cyprus acceded to the EU on 1 May 2004 as a de facto divided island. European Union (EU) has committed to a speedy resumption of negotiations on a comprehensive settlement under UN auspices for a solution to the Cyprus problem and the re-unification of the island.
The whole of the island is part of the EU. However, in the northern part of the island, in the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control, EU legislation is suspended in line with Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty 2003 (OJ L 236 – 23.9.2003). In the event of a solution to the Cyprus problem this suspension shall be lifted. It is noted that the suspension does not affect the personal rights of Turkish Cypriots as EU citizens. They are citizens of a Member State, the Republic of Cyprus, even though they may live in the areas not under government control.
This suspension made it necessary for special rules concerning the crossing of goods, services and persons to the line between the abovementioned areas and those areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control needed to be established.
In order to ensure the effectiveness of these rules, their application had to be extended also to the boundary between the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control and the Eastern Sovereign Base Area of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
As the abovementioned areas are temporarily outside the customs and fiscal territory of the Community and outside the area of freedom, justice and security, the special rules should secure an equivalent standard of protection of the security of the EU with regard to illegal immigration and threats to public order, and of its economic interests as far as the movement of goods is concerned.
2. Legal Provisions
a) Council Regulation (EC) No 866/2004 of 29th April 2004 entered in force on 1st of May 2004 (hereafter: Green Line Regulation, GLR) lays down special rules concerning goods, services and persons crossing the line between the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control and the areas in which does not. In Annex I, a list of the crossing points is laid down: Ledra Palace and Agios Dhometios. According to article 4(3), goods crossing the line, are allowed only at the above mentioned crossing points and the crossing points of Pergamos and Strovilia under the authority of the Eastern Sovereign Base Area. The Regulation refers to the prohibition of animals and animal products movement and provides exemptions from duties and taxes on goods contained in the personal luggage of persons crossing the line.
b) Commission Regulation 1624/2005 of 4th October 2005, derogating from Green Line Regulation as regards citrus fruits crossing the line (falling within CN code 0805). Those goods shall not be subject to customs duties or charges having equivalent effect.
3. Definitions
For the purpose of the above Regulations the following definitions shall apply:
(a) the term ‘line’ means:
(i) for the purpose of checks on persons, is the line between the areas under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and those areas in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control;
(ii) for the purpose of checks on goods, is the line between the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control and both those areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control and the Eastern Sovereign Base Area of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
(b) the term ‘third-country national’ means any person who is not a citizen of the European Union within the meaning of Article 17(1) of the EC Treaty.
Why the «line» is referred as «Green Line»;
The term «Green Line» refers to the cease fire line that de facto divides the island nation of Cyprus. It was first established in 1964, when Major-General Peter Young was the commander of a "peace force", a predecessor of the present UNFICYP. After stationing his troops in different areas of Nicosia, the general drew a cease-fire line on a map with a dark green crayon, which was to become known as the "Green Line".
The Green Line became impassable following the July 1974 invasion by Turkey. It runs for more than 180.5 km along and has an area of 346 km². Nicosia is the only divided capital in the whole world.
4. The Regulation (EC) no. 587/2008.
The amending Regulation provided for a general lifting of duties on agricultural products originating in the northern part of Cyprus when being traded across the Line. Furthermore, the total maximum value of goods contained in the personal luggage of persons crossing the Line was increased from € 135 to € 260 so as to encourage the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. Goods up to this amount can now be introduced free of customs, excise duties and taxes across the Line into the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus or the UK Sovereign Base Area. This rule does not apply to cigarettes and alcohol for which the limits are defined in Article 6 (2) GLR. Finally, the amendments regulated in a transparent way the temporary introduction of goods (for up to six months) from the northern part of Cyprus into the government-controlled areas or the SBA.
5. List of Crossing Points
Persons and goods shall cross the Line only at crossing points authorised by the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus which are laid down in Annex I and also, regarding goods only, at the (c) and (d) crossing points as referred in article 4(3) of GLR. Those are:


a) Ledra Palace (for pedestrians only)
b) Agios Dhometios
c) Pergamos
d) Strovilia
e) Ledra Street (for pedestrians only)
f) Zodhia
g) Kato Pyrgos – Karavostasi
h) Kato Pyrgos – Kokkina
i) Kokkina – Pachyammos
The last two are not opened yet.
6. Crossing of Persons
Persons shall cross the line only at the crossing points mentioned in paragraph 5 (except c and d) and the goods which hold or contained in their personal luggage may be exempt from turnover tax and excise duty as well as from other duties provided that:
(a) Goods have no commercial character and their total value does not exceed €260 per person;
(b) The quantitative limits for exemptions shall be 40 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits for personal consumption. This exemption shall not be granted to persons crossing the Line under 17 years of age. The movement of any quantity of fine-cut tobacco for the rolling of cigarettes and/or other smoking tobacco from the areas of the Republic of Cyprus which are not under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is prohibited.
7. Crossing of Goods
Goods shall cross the line only at the crossing points mentioned in paragraph 5 and shall be accompanied by a document issued by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce for that purpose.
According to Article 4 of the Green Line Regulation, goods which can be classified under the following categories may be introduced to the areas of the Republic of Cyprus which are under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus:
A. Goods which are wholly obtained in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus which are not under effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. The following goods are considered as such:
· minerals extracted from these areas, e.g. salt, sand, chalk, asbestos, limestones;
· vegetable goods harvested in these areas, e.g. bulbs, citrus fruits, fruits, cereals
· refuse, wastes and useless goods deriving from industrial operations carried out in these areas, as long as they have been collected in these areas and they cannot be used for any purpose other than for the recovery of raw materials;
· goods produced in these areas exclusively from goods described above or from derivatives thereof at any production stage, e.g. bricks, marbles, sand and gravel, orange juice, wines e.t.c.
B. Goods which have undergone their last, substantial, economically justified processing or working in an undertaking, equipped for that purpose in the areas not under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, e.g. furniture (wood, which after processing is transformed into such furniture), shoes (hides, soles and other raw material, which after processing are transformed into shoes).
It is noted that the movement of goods obtained or derived from the free areas and trafficked from and back into the free areas between crossing points and through the areas located outside the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus, is allowed if the movement is completed within twelve hours at the latest. The person who transports the goods shall possess the necessary documentation to prove the origin of the goods e.g. invoice of sale or purchase, shipment etc. in case of any doubt.
7.2 Prohibitions of goods or goods subject to restrictions

Goods are prohibited to cross the line when they are imported from the closed ports of the Republic of Cyprus and illicit airports, except those goods relieved from duties and taxes as in paragraph 6. In addition:

Animals and animal products
The movement of live animals and animal products across the line is prohibited except the movement of fresh fish for commercial purposes only. This prohibition includes productive animals and pets, either for commercial transaction (e.g. transport to a slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter) or as a pet accompanied by the owner. In the case of the movement of fresh fish for commercial purposes, a valid accompanied document must be presented and the movement to the free areas will be allowed after the inspection and approval by the Officials of the Veterinary Services. The movement of fresh fish may be permitted only from the crossing point of Agios Dometios. This includes: fertilizer, snails, reptiles, hunting etc.

Counterfeit and pirated goods
The movement of counterfeit and pirated goods/items (even one piece) from persons, is prohibited. According to article 4 of the Regulation (EC) 1480/2004 the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus shall ensure that goods crossing the line comply with the EC rules on the prohibition on the bringing in of counterfeit and pirated goods.

Construction Products
Samples might be received for further inspection by the Services for Supervision of Market Products Construction of Ministry of the Interior.

Radio equipment
The movement of radio equipment into the free areas for radio activity is prohibited, unless its owner is authorised for the usage of radio frequencies from the Department of Electronic Communications.

Cement
The movement of sacks of cement in packages of 50 kg into the free areas is prohibited. For all types of cements whether they are packed in bags of 25 kg or transported in bulk and in order to place them on the market, the consignee must present a certificate of analysis of cement by accredited European laboratory, regarding the content of chromium VI [Cr (VI)] which should be accepted by the Department of Labour Inspection. Exception is the case of the transport of cement in bulk in appropriate vehicles which do not allow any leak.

Pharmaceuticals Products
The movement of controlled pharmaceuticals (drugs and psychotropics), doping steroids and other substances which may be used for doping is prohibited.
In addition, the movement of medical products for which there is a doubt as to whether they are intended for personal use as well as for those not marked or labeled or bearing misleading labeling is prohibited.
However, medical products intended for personal use with reasonable quantity, for up to one month’s of treatment, are allowed. The person who transfers them signs a declaration on the C.P. 4.

Pesticides
The movement of pesticide across the line into the free areas is prohibited.

Plastic objects (containers, caps, etc.) for use in food packaging
The movement of plastic objects (containers/materials) used for commercial purposes in food packaging is permitted if approved by Health Services Department.

Plant products:
A. The movement of the following plants and plant products is prohibited regardless its purpose (commercial or private), because the production must be carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation or are hosts of harmful organisms.


ProductComments
Ornamental plantsTrees, bushes, flowers in pots etc. (palm trees, forest plants)
Fruit trees Citrus, stone fruit trees, pommes fruit trees
Grains Seeds for planting
Cut flowers
Grape Fruit grapes
Vineyard plants

B. The movement of all the following plant and plant products that are not hosts of quarantine pests and are held for commercial purposes is allowed, provided that visual inspection or other examination will be undertaken by qualified staff:

ProductComments
Cereals Wheat, barley. Inspection on the basis of the animals Feed and feed Additives Law also.
legumes (a) vetches, peas, lentils, field beans, peas, beans, black eye peas: dried seeds for human or animal consumption.
(b) beans, black-eyed peas, field beans, peas: green for human consumption
Vegetable fruit Tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, cucumbers, marrows, melons, water melons
Carrots, onions, beets
Leafy vegetables cabbage, celery, lettuce, spinach, koliander, ruccola, asparagus, onions batch
HerbsBatch or dried
Fruitstone fruit, figs
Dried nutsAlmonds, walnuts, salted figs
Timber
firewood included*
minus the timber and firewood coniferous (pine trees, aoratos, maple trees and chestnuts)


C. The movement of all the following that are hosts of quarantine pests is allowed, provided that, a “Report of Phytosanitary Inspection” is issued by Community Phytosanitary experts (Annex III of Regulation 1480/2004).

ProductComments
Citrus Fruit The movement is allowed provided that (a) are free from harmful organisms (b) they do not have
stalks and leaves (vectors of tristezas)
potatoes The movement is allowed provided that an overview of Community inspectors is made and no presence of quarantine enemies is detected.

It is noted that all the above must be accompanied by an accompanying document issued by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce that verifies that the goods are originate from the areas in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control. For partial transportation of goods on the basis of the same accompanying document, Form C.P. 10 must be completed by the transporter of the goods, in the presence of the customs officers.
Also, small quantities of the above products are allowed if they are intended for personal use or consumption e.g. up to 3kg or 3 strands vegetables, without any accompanying documents or any inspection by the Department of Agriculture.
The movement of any quantity of hay or straw to the free areas is prohibited due to a possible risk of spreading infectious or contagious diseases.


Show details for E. THE ILLEGALLY OPERATING “UNIVERSITIES” IN THE OCCUPIED AREAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUSE. THE ILLEGALLY OPERATING “UNIVERSITIES” IN THE OCCUPIED AREAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

    Show details for F. TRAVELLERS – CAUTION ON REAL ESTATE PURCHASEF. TRAVELLERS – CAUTION ON REAL ESTATE PURCHASE
    Show details for G. ON ACQUISITION OF REAL ESTATE IN THE OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS WHICH IS NOT EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED BY THE GOVG. ON ACQUISITION OF REAL ESTATE IN THE OCCUPIED PART OF CYPRUS WHICH IS NOT EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.






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