Türkiye – Import Conformity Assessment to Standards (Product Safety and Inspection: 2026/1)

Scope

• Covers products whose standards are listed in Annex-1, when placed under the Release for Free Circulation regime.
• Excludes goods returned under the Outward Processing regime (re-imports under that regime are not covered).
• The system is designed for import conformity assessment against:

Mandatory Surveillance Certificate

This Communiqué does not introduce an “import surveillance certificate” mechanism in the classical trade-policy sense. Instead, the operational “mandatory element” is:

• Mandatory TAREKS process + TAREKS Reference Number for covered goods (subject to risk analysis),
• With TSE acting as the inspection unit for conformity assessment in the import stage.

Application and Review Process

General rule (standard workflow):

1. The importer must be defined in TAREKS and must have at least one authorized firm user (under Communiqué UGD: 2025/28 on TAREKS firm definition/authorization).
2. Application is submitted via TAREKS (e-Government / Ministry e-services).
3. TAREKS assigns an application number for tracking the process at the inspection unit.
4. Risk analysis determines whether the batch is:

Timing and document rules (key compliance points):

• Controls are performed before customs declaration registration, in line with Customs Regulation principles.
• For physical inspection cases, required documents must be uploaded in TAREKS within 20 business days (including the application day); failure results in a negative outcome.
• The administration may request additional information/documents.
• Notifications are issued to the declared email addresses of firm users; non-delivery risk is allocated to the firm (Ministry not liable for undelivered notices).

Customs Value Clarification and Practical Application

• The Communiqué is not a valuation instrument. Its function is product conformity assessment against standards/technical requirements.
• Importers must ensure that documents uploaded (including invoices/proformas and any supporting reports) are accurate and authentic—fake/altered/third-party fabricated documents can cause negative outcomes regardless of other conditions.

Validity and Legal Effect

• The TAREKS reference number must be declared in Box 44 of the customs declaration.
• Validity of a TAREKS reference number is 1 year from issuance.
• Critically:

Enforcement and Compliance Risk

This Communiqué is operationally “high-risk” because it combines risk-based routing + strict importer liability:

1) Risk analysis + physical inspection exposure

• Even where an importer expects exemption/direct reference number, the Communiqué explicitly allows routing to physical inspection based on risk analysis.

2) Negative outcomes and objection

• If non-compliance is detected, the inspection is concluded negatively and the importer is notified.
• Importers may object to test results within 15 business days from notification, and may request re-testing under another applicable standard where allowed.

3) “Technical Problem” undertaking and heavy financial consequences

• Where full testing cannot be performed due to technical constraints (sampling/transport/mounting/long-life tests), an undertaking (Annex-3) may be required.
• Under that undertaking, goods cannot be transferred or marketed until testing is completed; if non-compliance is confirmed, goods must be re-exported within 30 business days after notification.
• The undertaking references a severe consequence tied to the Technical Regulations Regime Decision: a payment equal to 60% of the CIF value (converted at the CBRT selling rate at notification date) in case of breach, to be collected under public receivables rules.

4) Post-clearance discovery of scope

• If a product’s GTIP is later found (post-clearance/controls) to fall within Annex-1, the Communiqué provides for the case to be escalated, and the relevant authority may treat the product as negatively assessed if “unsafe” is confirmed.

5) User-level sanctions

• Firm users who act contrary to the rules may have their TAREKS authority suspended for 1–12 months, and the firm’s applications may be routed to physical inspection for 1–12 months, taking into account frequency/prior violations/product nature.

Repealed Regulation and Entry into Force

• Repeals Product Safety and Inspection: 2025/1 (published 31/12/2024).
• Enters into force on 1 January 2026.
• Transitional rule: for shipments with transport document issued or presented to customs before 1 January 2026, the importer may request finalization under the repealed Communiqué until 28 February 2026 (inclusive), provided the TAREKS application is made.

Compliance Assessment

From an importer compliance perspective, the “must-do” actions under 2026/1 are operational, not theoretical:

• Before contracting / before shipment: verify whether the product’s GTIP is in Annex-1 and identify the exact applicable TSE standard(s).
• Before customs declaration registration: ensure the firm is properly defined in TAREKS and at least one authorized firm user exists.
• Document readiness: plan for prompt upload of required documents and any additional evidence if routed to physical inspection—timeliness (20 business days) is a hard control point.
• If “technical problem” arises: understand that the Annex-3 undertaking creates strict obligations (no domestic supply/transfer; re-export if failed) and carries material financial exposure if breached.
• Do not treat a TAREKS reference as “compliance clearance.” Internal compliance files should keep separate evidence for product safety/technical compliance beyond the import-stage reference number.

See the legislation document.