Halal Accreditation Period in Imported Products
Official titleCommuniqué on Import Inspection of Products with Halal Conformity Certificate (Product Safety and Inspection: 2026/35)
This Communiqué aims to prevent unfair commercial practices and protect consumers against deceptive statements by regulating the import inspection of products with halal conformity markings to be supplied to the domestic market. It has been made mandatory for products bearing the halal statement to be certified by the Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) or institutions recognized by HAK and to be inspected through TAREKS.
Before
Prior to this Communiqué, there was no obligation for imported products bearing the halal label to be certified by organizations accredited by the Helal Akreditasyon Kurumu (HAK) (Halal Accreditation Agency) and to be subjected to a specific audit mechanism via TAREKS. The verification of halal allegations was less structured.
After
With the published Communiqué, it has become mandatory for imported products bearing the halal label to possess a halal conformity certificate issued by HAK or institutions recognized by HAK, and to undergo risk-based audits via TAREKS, before being submitted to the Turkish domestic market. In case of non-conformity, the import of products will not be permitted, or the halal labels will need to be removed.
Details of the Regulation
The Communiqué on Import Inspection of Products with Halal Conformity Certificate (Product Safety and Inspection: 2026/35) covers products listed in the Annex and falling within the scope of conformity assessment fields for which the Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) provides accreditation services, to be imported particularly under the Free Circulation Regime and the Processing Under Customs Control Regime. While aiming to ensure the accuracy of halal conformity markings and certificates on imported products, the Communiqué intends to prevent consumers from being deceived. The importation of products bearing a halal statement that are not certified by institutions accredited by HAK or authorized under mutual recognition agreements will not be permitted. Importer companies are required to be registered in the TAREKS system and to submit their inspection applications through TAREKS. Products subjected to actual inspection as a result of risk analysis are inspected by Trade Inspectors, and their importation is permitted after their compliance with legislation is confirmed. In case non-conformity is detected, the importation of the product with the halal declaration will not be permitted; however, if the halal statement is removed by an appropriate method, its importation may be allowed. Otherwise, the products may be returned to the origin, transited to a third country, sold on condition of export, or abandoned to customs for destruction. TAREKS reference numbers must be recorded in the customs declaration and will be valid for a period of 1 year. The Communiqué will enter into force three months after the date of its publication.
Questions You Might Have
- Which products will be subjected to 'halal' inspection under this communiqué?
- Products with the Customs Tariff Statistics Position (GTİP) numbers specified in the Annex will be subjected to inspection if they bear any halal mark, brand, stamp, or statement on them during import.
- Can a product that does not have a halal conformity certificate but bears a halal statement be imported into Turkey?
- No, under this communiqué, it is essential that products bearing a halal statement are certified by the Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) or institutions authorized by HAK; otherwise, their importation is not permitted.
- What is the validity period of the TAREKS reference number?
- The TAREKS reference number is valid for 1 year from the date it is issued.
- When will this communiqué enter into force?
- This communiqué will enter into force three months after its publication date in the Official Gazette on 25 June 2026, which is on 25 September 2026.
Key Terms
- Helal uygunluk belgesi
- It refers to the certificate issued as a result of activities carried out by halal conformity assessment bodies for the purpose of halal product and service certification.
- TAREKS
- Risk-Based Control System in Foreign Trade; it is an internet-based application established to carry out inspection, conformity, and authorization procedures conducted pursuant to product safety and technical regulations legislation in an electronic environment and on a risk-analysis basis.
- Helal Akreditasyon Kurumu (HAK)
- It is the public institution authorized to accredit bodies offering halal certification, inspection, and conformity assessment services.
- Fiili denetim
- It refers to document verification or physical inspection during import inspection processes.
Affected Sectors
- Food production
- Beverage production
- Cosmetics manufacturing
- Chemical industry
- Import and export
- Certification services
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REGAS Commentary
This Communiqué provides an important guarantee for citizens who show sensitivity to halal product consumption, especially in sectors such as food and cosmetics. By inspecting the authenticity and conformity of the 'halal' statement on imported products, misleading consumers will be prevented. For importer companies, it introduces a new compliance process and additional inspection obligations. Companies are now required to obtain certification from the Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) or authorized institutions recognized by HAK for the halal statements on their products and to integrate into the TAREKS system. Although this situation may lead to additional time and costs in import processes, in the long term it will increase the reliability of the halal product market in Turkey. Early adaptation of companies to these new regulations will minimize potential problems that may be experienced at customs.