Product Groups Subject to Import Inspection

Product groups subject to import inspection form the basis of official inspection processes implemented to ensure the compliance of products imported into Turkey with human health, the environment, and consumer safety. Import inspection is mandatory for many product groups, primarily textiles, toys, shoes, watches, and similar consumer goods. These processes are carried out under the coordination of the Ministry of Trade and through the TAREKS system.

What is Import Inspection?
Import inspection is the process of checking whether imported products comply with technical regulations, standards, and product safety criteria before being placed on the market. As part of import inspection, samples are taken from products, and analyses are carried out in authorized organizations with TAREKS laboratory status. At this point, the concepts of TAREKS laboratory and Ministry of Trade authorized laboratory are of great importance.

TAREKS System and TAREKS Laboratory

TAREKS (Risk-Based Control System in Foreign Trade) is a digital platform that enables the risk-based control of products subject to import inspection. Analyses within the scope of the system are carried out by the TAREKS laboratory, which is defined as an authorized laboratory of the Ministry of Trade and has an accredited infrastructure.

TAREKS laboratory services include:

Document conformity control

Physical examination

Laboratory analyses

Technical regulation compliance assessment

In these processes, the concepts of Import Inspection and TAREKS laboratory are considered together.

Product Groups Subject to Import Inspection
The product groups subject to import inspection cover a very wide range. The most frequently encountered product groups in practice are summarized below.

Textile Products – TAREKS Textile Analysis
Textile products are one of the product groups most intensively inspected during import. TAREKS textile analysis plays a critical role, especially in products that come into direct contact with the consumer.

The main tests performed within the scope of TAREKS textile analysis are:

Azo dye determination

Formaldehyde analysis

Nickel release test

Lead and cadmium determination

Color fastness and fiber composition

These analyses are carried out by the TAREKS laboratory within the Import Inspection process. TAREKS textile analysis guarantees both product safety and compliance with regulations.

Toy Product Analyses
Toy products are subject to detailed tests within the scope of Import Inspection because they pose a high risk to children's health. TAREKS laboratory, which has the status of an authorized laboratory of the Ministry of Trade, performs the following analyses for toys:

Heavy metal migration tests

Physical and mechanical safety tests

Flammability tests

Chemical content analyses

These analyses ensure that toys are safely placed on the market and are an indispensable part of the Import Inspection process.

Shoe Analyses
Shoe products fall within the scope of Import Inspection due to their leather and metal accessory content. The following are shoe analyses performed by the TAREKS laboratory:

Leather content analyses

Chromium (VI) test

Lead, cadmium, and nickel determination

Material conformity tests

These tests are conducted similarly to the TAREKS textile analysis approach and are completed under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade's authorized laboratory.

Watch Analyses
Watch products are subject to special evaluation under Import Control due to their metal part content. Watch analyses performed within the TAREKS laboratory include:

Lead and cadmium determination

Nickel release test

Material conformity assessment

These analyses are critically important, especially for watch parts that are in prolonged contact with the skin.

Ministry of Trade Authorized Laboratory and Legal Basis
The Ministry of Trade's authorized laboratories are accredited laboratories with the necessary technical competence to conduct analyses under Import Control. These laboratories are assigned through the TAREKS system, and the results are evaluated through the system.

These inspections, conducted in accordance with the legislation and guidelines determined by the Ministry of Trade, are a legal requirement for importing companies.

Conclusion
The product groups subject to import inspections are of vital importance in terms of ensuring consumer safety and market order. The concepts of import inspection, TAREKS laboratory, TAREKS textile analysis, and Ministry of Trade authorized laboratory should be considered as a whole for textile, toy, footwear, and watch analyses. Import inspection processes completed with accurate analyses in accordance with the legislation ensure that products are safely offered to the Turkish market.