Import Surveillance Requirements for Satellite Receivers and Set-Top Box Components - Communiqué No: 2026/28

Scope of the Regulation

The surveillance measure applies to finished satellite reception devices as well as specific parts used in advanced set-top box systems.

Finished satellite TV receivers classified under HS 8528.71 are subject to surveillance when declared below USD 40 per unit, regardless of whether they are exclusively designed for satellite reception or fall under residual categories within the same heading.

The regulation also covers main boards and core electronic assemblies used in set-top boxes classified under HS 8529.90. These include main boards for devices that receive satellite broadcasts, incorporate an internet-access modem, enable interactive data exchange, and are based on microprocessor-controlled architectures. For such components, surveillance applies when the declared unit value is below USD 20 per unit, irrespective of whether they are classified as residual parts under HS 8529.90.30, 8529.90.93, or 8529.90.96.

Only imports declared at or above the applicable reference values may be released without surveillance certification.

Mandatory Surveillance Certificate

Where the declared unit value falls below the relevant reference threshold, importation is permitted only upon presentation of a valid Surveillance Certificate issued by the Ministry of Trade of Turkey. The certificate must be obtained prior to registration of the customs declaration and must be correctly referenced in the declaration using the assigned document number and issue date.

Failure to present a valid certificate results in customs clearance being blocked, regardless of product branding, technical specifications, or intended market positioning.

Application and Review Process

Applications for Surveillance Certificates are submitted electronically through the national Single Window system using the designated industrial surveillance document type and selecting Communiqué No: 2026/28 as the legal basis. A qualified electronic signature is required, with an alternative submission channel available via the national e-government portal.

Where electronic submission is not technically feasible, physical applications may be accepted using the prescribed application form together with corporate registration documentation.

During the review stage, the authority may request original documents, technical specifications, or supplementary explanations. Any inconsistency, deficiency, or contradiction identified will suspend issuance until fully remedied.

Customs Value Clarification and Practical Application

The Communiqué explicitly states, in a separate provision, that the reference values introduced for surveillance purposes do not replace and do not constitute customs value. General customs valuation rules remain fully applicable.

In practice—and specifically for value-based surveillance regimes—it is possible to structure the declared customs value by including legitimate foreign cost elements, such as international freight, insurance, royalties, or other overseas charges. By lawfully declaring these elements, the final customs value may be increased above the surveillance reference threshold, allowing the import to proceed without a Surveillance Certificate. This approach is accepted by customs authorities, provided that all cost components are genuine, properly documented, and declared in full compliance with valuation rules.

This practice applies only to value-based surveillance measures and does not extend to quantity-based or non-value surveillance regimes.

Validity and Legal Effect

Surveillance Certificates issued under this Communiqué are valid for six months from the date of issuance. The existence of a certificate does not prevent customs authorities from examining or reassessing the declared value under general valuation principles. Conversely, accurate and well-documented valuation may allow clearance without surveillance certification where thresholds are legitimately exceeded.

Enforcement and Compliance Risk

If inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete information is identified during the application or review stages, issuance of the Surveillance Certificate will be withheld until corrective action is taken. Non-compliance may lead to customs delays, additional storage costs, and increased scrutiny during post-clearance audits.

Repealed Regulation and Entry into Force

With the entry into force of this Communiqué, Communiqué No: 2008/02 has been fully repealed. The new surveillance regime applies to customs declarations registered from the 30th day following publication, requiring careful transition planning for shipments scheduled around the effective date.

Compliance Assessment

From a customs compliance and trade risk management perspective, this regulation targets a technology-intensive product group with high price sensitivity and frequent under-declaration risks, particularly for mass-market set-top boxes and imported main boards.

Importers should reassess product configuration, component valuation, licensing or royalty structures, and logistics cost allocation well before shipment. For value-based surveillance, lawful inclusion of foreign cost components can offer operational flexibility, provided documentation is robust and internally consistent. A shipment-by-shipment analysis is strongly recommended to determine whether surveillance can be avoided through correct valuation or whether proactive application for a Surveillance Certificate provides greater certainty and risk control.

See relevant legislative document.