Import Inspection of Mother and Baby Products – Communiqué No: 2026/17 (Türkiye)

Scope

• Applies to products to be imported under the Release for Free Circulation regime.
• Excludes goods returning under the Outward Processing regime.
• For products listed in Annex-2:

Applicable Technical Framework (Annex-1)

The Communiqué ties import controls to multiple competent authorities and rule sets, including:

• KKDİK (chemicals restrictions),
• Toy Safety Regulation (OGY),
• Food Contact Materials rules under the Turkish Food Codex (where relevant),
• Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU – LVD) for electrical equipment (where relevant),
• and a detailed set of Turkish/EN standards for baby-care products (e.g., cots/cribs, strollers, pacifiers, high chairs, baby walkers, carriers, bathing aids, feeding equipment, etc.).

Operationally, this means the “target compliance basis” varies by product type and may combine chemical restrictions + safety standards + CE/DoC requirements depending on classification.

TAREKS-Based Control Model

• All transactions are performed through TAREKS based on risk analysis (firm history, product type, brand/model, price/quantity, origin/shipping country, entry customs, and other risk indicators).
• Firms must be registered in TAREKS and must have at least one authorized firm user.
• Controls are conducted before customs declaration registration (Customs Regulation Art. 181/4 logic).

Application Process

• The firm user applies via TAREKS (Ministry e-transactions portal or e-Devlet) and uploads the documents listed in Annex-3 (items 1 and 2) at the application stage.
• TAREKS generates an application number; the importer and user are responsible for accurate and complete submissions.

Exemptions and Special Handling

• A.TR-declared goods: when declared in TAREKS as A.TR, a TAREKS reference number may be issued directly, though risk analysis can still route the goods to physical inspection.
• Returned goods (Customs Regulation Art. 446 cases): no TAREKS application; handled through the Communiqué’s customs procedure and fixed reference logic.
• Postal/express cargo goods under the referenced customs decision framework: no TAREKS application; concluded under Article 11 with a fixed TAREKS reference number entered in Box 44.

Physical Inspection and Deadlines (High Operational Risk Area)

If routed to physical inspection, additional documents (Annex-3 items 3 and 4) must be uploaded into TAREKS within 20 working days (including the application day).If not uploaded within deadline, the application is concluded negatively.

Important integrity rule:

• If the uploaded EU Declaration of Conformity, test report or other requested documents are found not to be issued by the relevant party, the inspection is concluded negatively, even if other conditions appear compliant.

Mandatory Uploads to TAREKS (Annex-3)

1. Relevant customs/shipping document(s) depending on goods status (summary declaration, transit/transport docs such as B/L–CMR–CIM, FTZ forms, prior declarations for warehouse/temporary import, etc.).
2. Invoice or proforma invoice.
3. Accredited laboratory test report.
4. Product photos taken in the customs-controlled area.

In addition, for products under:

• Toy Safety Regulation (OGY) and/or
• LVD (2014/35/EU),the workflow explicitly requires the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC) as part of the compliance evidence set (as indicated in the Annex-3 note).

Customs Declaration Practice (Box 44)

• When the product is cleared for import, TAREKS issues a TAREKS reference number.
• The importer must enter the reference number into Box 44 of the customs declaration.
• Validity of the reference number is 1 year from issuance.
• If the GTIP later changes and the product is found to be within Annex-2, and goods are still under customs supervision, the customs office may direct the goods to inspection and a TAREKS application becomes mandatory.

Enforcement and Compliance Risk

• The importer remains responsible for product compliance whether inspected or not.
• A TAREKS “may be imported” reference number is not proof of product safety or full compliance.
• Sanctions apply under:
• Additionally, for violations in TAREKS-driven inspections:

Repealed Regulation and Entry into Force

• Communiqué 2025/17 is repealed.
• Entry into force: 1 January 2026.
• Transitional arrangement: shipments dispatched for export to Türkiye before 1 January 2026 (transport document issued or presented to customs per customs rules) may be processed under the repealed Communiqué until 28 February 2026 (inclusive), if the importer requests and the TAREKS application is made.

Compliance Assessment

For importers, this Communiqué is operationally “simple” in structure but strict in execution: risk-based routing + short evidence deadlines + document integrity checks. Practical compliance readiness should focus on:

1. Product-to-rule mapping: for each SKU, confirm which Annex-1 regulation/standard(s) apply (OGY, LVD, KKDİK, food-contact rules, and/or specific TS/EN standards).
2. Evidence pack discipline: ensure test reports are from accredited labs, and where applicable ensure EU DoC and technical documentation are consistent with the declared product identity (brand/model).
3. Bonded-area photo workflow: prepare a reliable process for producing compliant product photos without delaying clearance.
4. TAREKS governance: keep firm registration, firm users and authorization records current—because non-compliance can escalate into systematic routing to physical inspection.

See the legislation document.