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Türkiye will revoke simplified customs clearance for low-value items purchased through foreign e-commerce platforms starting Feb. 1, 2026, the Trade Ministry announced on Wednesday, citing growing concerns over product safety.
Simplified customs clearance, a fast-track import process that allows certain low-value goods to enter the country with minimal checks and reduced documentation, will no longer apply to such items. In Türkiye, the scheme previously covered imports with a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of up to €30 ($35.08), enabling these products to enter with no additional duties and avoiding higher taxes for consumers.
Chinese e-commerce platforms, most notably Temu and AliExpress, which have been at the center of debate due to their rapidly growing market share in Türkiye, are expected to be heavily impacted by the move.
The decision follows widespread findings that many of these products fail to meet European Union safety standards and, in some cases, contain high levels of toxic or carcinogenic substances, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry recalled a measure introduced in October that excluded items posing elevated health risks—such as toys, shoes, and leather goods, often imported from Chinese e-commerce platforms—from simplified customs procedures.
These products will now be subject to standard customs clearance regardless of value, under a revised interpretation of the "Simplified Customs Declaration," which previously allowed streamlined entry for certain low-value goods. Going forward, such items must undergo regular import procedures, closing a loophole that had enabled bulk e-commerce shipments to enter under the guise of individual purchases.
The new policy, however, excludes products essential for health or research purposes, provided their value does not exceed €1,500, and they are delivered via postal or express courier services.
The decision comes amid growing calls from Turkish industrial groups to tighten import rules on online shopping, particularly from China, citing health risks and damage to the domestic market caused by uncompetitive prices.
The removal of duty-free exemptions for cross-border e-commerce had long been under discussion in Türkiye, and the threshold had already been reduced in stages.
A regulation that took effect on August 6, 2024, lowered the individual duty-free allowance from €150 to €30. A follow-up decision in December 2024 included shipping fees in the taxable value, effectively reducing the threshold to €27, while also imposing a fixed €3 shipping fee per order.
Under these rules, non-commercial items sent via postal or express courier services were subject to a 30% customs duty if shipped from EU countries and 60% if shipped from other countries. In addition, some products were charged a fixed 20% excise tax.
Going forward, items that fall under the excluded categories must follow regular import procedures, closing a loophole that had previously enabled bulk e-commerce shipments to enter under the guise of individual purchases.
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