Mandatory “Product Safety Certificate” for Cross-Border E-Commerce Platforms Selling in Türkiye
The Turkish Ministry of Trade is imposing strict inspections on cross-border e-commerce platforms that sell online to consumers in Türkiye. Accordingly, platforms that sell only through imports, primarily Temu, will be required to issue a “product safety certificate” for each product sold!
The Ministry of Trade has put cross-border e-commerce under scrutiny. With the regulation that came into effect in April, the Ministry had introduced an obligation for companies that do not have manufacturers in Türkiye and sell solely through imports to “appoint a representative.” Additionally, a $30 purchase limit, including shipping, was set.
Product Safety Takes Center Stage in Cross-Border E-Commerce!
The Ministry of Trade is requiring cross-border e-commerce platforms and marketplaces that fail to appoint representatives in Türkiye to issue a “product safety certificate” for every product sold in Türkiye!
Accordingly, products without quality certificates will not be allowed to enter Türkiye. These include, foremost, shoes, textiles, apparel, toys, kitchen, and bathroom products. This step is taken to prevent products that may threaten public health or contain carcinogenic or harmful chemicals. Products without a product safety certificate will not be allowed to be sold in Türkiye through cross-border e-commerce.
Temu Could Not Appoint a Representative in Türkiye!
Meanwhile, it is claimed that the regulation targets Temu. Accordingly, the Ministry of Trade published the “Market Surveillance and Inspection Regulation for Products Marketed via Remote Communication Tools” on April 1, 2025, to protect public health and reduce consumption imports. Despite this regulation, Temu could not appoint a representative in Türkiye!
In 2024, Temu sent an average of 50,000 shipments daily to Türkiye. It is stated that the platform reached 200,000 daily shipments in the first five months of 2025. While these developments were unfolding, Temu officials were summoned to the Ministry of Trade on May 16, 2025.
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According to the regulation, manufacturers who are not in Türkiye and those marketing products through an importer or cross-border e-commerce must “appoint a representative.” Platforms that do not comply with this rule and fail to appoint a representative despite verbal warnings may face access bans.
“They Will Face Problems with Products Not Published on Their Pages Entering Türkiye”
Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan said the following about the issue on a radio program: “When you shop from Temu, products come directly from Chinese workshops to your home without any product safety inspection or examination for carcinogenic or harmful substances. This is actually a very problematic situation.
Now, we want these companies to publish their certificates on their pages. They will face problems with products not published on their pages entering Türkiye. While we have regulated platforms in Türkiye and are applying certain sanctions to them, we do not intend to allow this much free rein from abroad; we are monitoring the situation.”
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