Import Surveillance Update for Toys and Festive Articles (Communiqué No: 2019/6) – Table Revision
Why this matters for foreign exporters / importers to Türkiye:
Revised and more granular thresholds can change surveillance exposure overnight, particularly for remote-controlled toy cars and festive articles newly split into separate lines.
Because thresholds are assessed per gross ton, exporters must align pricing, packing, and logistics data carefully to avoid unintentionally triggering surveillance.
Misclassification between closely related GTİP lines (e.g. 9503 vs. 9505.10.90.00.00) can directly determine whether a Surveillance Certificate is required, affecting lead times and costs.
Surveillance obligations introduce pre-clearance administrative steps, increasing the importance of shipment planning for time-sensitive or seasonal goods.
Treating surveillance values as a proxy for customs valuation creates compliance risk, potentially leading to post-clearance challenges and penalties.
The amendment to the Communiqué on Import Surveillance (Communiqué No: 2019/6) was published in the 4th supplementary issue of the Official Gazette dated 31.12.2025 (No: 33124) and revises the table in Article 1 by updating/clarifying the product lines and unit customs value thresholds.
1) What changed compared to the previous version
- Article 1 table has been replaced with a revised table covering goods under Chapter 95 (mainly 9503, 9504.40, 9505).
- New explicit sub-category added under 9503.00.75.00.00 (plastics):
- Festive/carnival articles structure clarified for 95.05 / 9505.10.90.00.00:
- Some description wording alignments were made (e.g., how certain 9503 lines are named), while many numeric thresholds remain the same.
- Measurement basis remains USD per ton, where “ton” means gross weight.
Effective date: The amendment enters into force on the 30th day following publication, i.e. 30.01.2026.
2) Practical meaning for companies and required actions
- If your declared unit value is below the listed threshold, the import is subject to surveillance practice and typically requires a Surveillance Certificate at declaration stage (as per the core structure of Communiqué No: 2019/6).
- Critical operational impact areas:
- Compliance note (important): The surveillance threshold is a control threshold and does not replace customs valuation rules (the customs value still must be determined under the Customs Law valuation provisions); companies should avoid treating the surveillance value as a “valuation basis.”
Other legislation updates
- Türkiye – Amendment to Customs General Communiqué No. 16: Clarification on Simplified Procedure for OKSB Holders
- Türkiye – Anti-Dumping Measures Expiring in 2026: Official Notice under Communiqué No. 2026/4
- Türkiye – Amendment to the Free Zones Implementation Regulation: Licensing, Accounting Separation and Superstructure Regime
- Amendment to the Minimum Fee Tariff for Customs Brokers and Authorized Customs Brokers (Türkiye – Regulatory Update)
- Imposition of Definitive Anti-Dumping Measures on Tin-Coated Flat-Rolled Steel Products Originating in Germany, China, Korea, Japan and Serbia