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Türkiye's Ministry of Commerce has implemented sweeping e-commerce consumer rights reforms that eliminate return shipping fees for online purchases and restore withdrawal rights for electronic products, according to new regulations published in the Official Gazette.
The amendments to the Distance Contracts Regulation will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, marking a significant shift in favor of consumer protection in online shopping.
Under the new e-commerce consumer rights framework, sellers and suppliers will be required to cover return shipping costs when consumers exercise their right of withdrawal from distance contracts.
"The practice of return shipping costs being covered by the seller or supplier when our consumers use their right of withdrawal in distance contracts has been preserved through renewed legislative changes," the ministry stated in its announcement.
The regulation ensures that when goods are returned through the carrier specified by the seller, consumers cannot be held responsible for return-related costs.
If the carrier specified in pre-purchase information lacks a branch in the consumer's location, the seller must arrange collection of returned goods without requesting additional fees.
The new consumer protection measures restore withdrawal rights for frequently purchased electronic items, including mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, and computers, in online shopping transactions.
Previous regulations had restricted consumers' ability to withdraw from purchases of these electronic products unless otherwise agreed by both parties. The Ministry reversed this restriction following feedback from the 28th Consumer Council held on Sept. 4, 2024.
"The possibility of using the right of withdrawal for these products has been preserved," the ministry noted, emphasizing that consumers can now return electronic devices within 14 days without providing justification.
The updated e-commerce consumer rights regulations introduce mandatory disclosure about dispute resolution procedures. Sellers must now include information about required mediation before court proceedings in pre-purchase information forms.
For consumer disputes within monetary limits under consumer court jurisdiction, the regulation mandates that consumers must first seek mediation before filing lawsuits.
"The obligation to include information about the requirement to apply to a mediator before filing a lawsuit in consumer court for disputes within monetary limits has been brought under regulation," the ministry explained.
The amendments respond to proposals raised during the 28th Consumer Council and subsequent ministry evaluations. Originally, regulations published in the Official Gazette on Aug. 23, 2022, had planned to allow pre-contractual agreements on return shipping cost responsibility and expand withdrawal right exceptions.
However, consumer advocacy and council feedback prompted the Ministry to reconsider these changes, prioritizing consumer economic interests protection as outlined in the Consumer Protection Law.
All provisions of the strengthened e-commerce consumer rights regulations will become effective January 1, 2026, providing businesses time to adjust their policies and systems.
The ministry emphasized that these changes aim to provide consumers with safer online shopping experiences on e-commerce sites and platforms, while ensuring proper consumer information through standardized pre-purchase disclosure forms.
"Our ministry will continue to pay maximum attention to legislative work aimed at protecting the economic interests of our consumers," the announcement concluded.
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