The Turkish Ministry of Trade has introduced new restrictions on the import of footwear, leather goods and toys through postal and express delivery services due to product safety concerns.
The decision, announced on 20 October 2025 under General Circular No. 2025/11, targets goods entering Türkiye under simplified customs declarations, a system often used for small e-commerce shipments.
Authorities said the move follows extensive safety testing of 182 imported items, where 81% failed to meet national safety standards.
Tests detected excessive levels of hazardous substances such as phthalates, lead, cadmium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
As a result, footwear, toys and leather goods can no longer enter Türkiye via express couriers such as DHL, UPS or FedEx unless they undergo full customs clearance.
The change aims to tighten oversight of low-value shipments that previously bypassed rigorous inspection procedures.
The new rule does not amount to a full ban. Footwear and leather products can still be imported through standard commercial channels, provided they comply with Türkiye’s safety regulations and pass inspection under the TAREKS conformity assessment system.
Non-compliant products may be detained, returned or subjected to further testing.
The Footwear Industrialists Association of Türkiye (TASD) welcomed the government’s action, citing long-standing concerns over unfair competition and unsafe imported goods
“These products not only created significant unfair competition for our companies but also posed serious risks to consumer health. In the tests conducted by TASD, we found that more than half of these products contained carcinogenic substances such as phthalates, lead, nickel and cadmium at levels at least seven to eight times higher than the permissible limits”
– Berke Içten, President of TASD
Although the circular does not specify customs codes, it clearly references footwear and leather goods, suggesting broad coverage that includes shoes, boots and accessories. It remains uncertain whether small leather items such as belts or wallets fall under the same rule.
