ANKARA, Türkiye — Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat announced that Türkiye is preparing to launch a new generation of artificial intelligence-powered product safety monitoring systems aimed at identifying unsafe products more quickly and strengthening consumer protection in the digital economy. The announcement came during the opening conference of Product Safety Week 2026, held at the Ministry of Trade in Ankara.
Speaking at the conference, Bolat said the government has completed pilot testing of the Electronic Market Surveillance and Inspection System (e-PGD), which will use AI-supported text and image analysis to detect potentially unsafe products. The system is designed to provide regulators with faster, data-driven decision-making capabilities and improve oversight of both physical and online marketplaces.
Focus on Digital-Era Product Safety
This year’s conference theme, “Product Safety in the Digital Age,” reflects the growing challenges posed by smart devices, artificial intelligence integration, connected products, and e-commerce. Bolat noted that digitalization is fundamentally changing traditional concepts of product safety, expanding concerns beyond physical defects to include software vulnerabilities, cybersecurity risks, and failures involving connected devices.
The minister also highlighted the increasing importance of Digital Product Passports, which are expected to improve transparency and traceability throughout product supply chains while supporting sustainability and circular-economy goals.
TAREKS Applications Jump 30%
Bolat reported strong growth in the use of Türkiye’s Risk-Based Control System for Foreign Trade (TAREKS), the country’s primary import inspection platform. Applications for industrial product imports rose from 1 million during the first quarter of 2025 to 1.3 million in the same period of 2026, representing a 30% increase. The system currently processes an average of 20,000 applications per day through automated risk analysis procedures.
According to the minister, ongoing digitalization efforts have increased the number of active firms registered with TAREKS to 130,000, while the number of active users has risen to 32,000.
E-Commerce Oversight Expands
As Türkiye’s e-commerce market continues to grow rapidly, authorities are placing greater emphasis on online product safety. Bolat said the government has introduced new regulations defining the responsibilities of online marketplaces, sellers, and other stakeholders to ensure consumers can shop safely in digital environments.
The forthcoming AI-powered e-PGD platform is expected to play a central role in this effort by proactively identifying risky products offered online before they reach consumers.
Strategic Policy Priority
Bolat described product safety as a strategic state policy that not only protects consumers but also strengthens the competitiveness of Turkish manufacturers and enhances the reputation of Turkish exports in global markets. He emphasized that technological modernization and data-driven regulation will remain key pillars of Türkiye’s trade and consumer protection strategy.
The initiative forms part of Türkiye’s broader effort to align its regulatory framework with emerging digital trade standards while preparing for the next generation of technology-driven commerce.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök