"My product has CE, I won't have problems with TAREKS" is an assumption we frequently hear among importers — and it's a wrong one. The CE mark and TAREKS are closely related but entirely different concepts; one is a marking system through which the manufacturer declares the product's conformity with EU legislation, the other is an inspection mechanism that verifies at customs whether that declaration is actually true. In this article we clarify the relationship between the two and the points most commonly confused.
A Quick Reminder: What Is the CE Mark, What Is TAREKS?
The CE mark is a legal mark the manufacturer affixes to its product based on its own declaration, showing the product meets the essential requirements of the relevant EU directives and regulations; we covered this in our article What Is CE Certification?. TAREKS, on the other hand, is an electronic system that carries out risk-based inspection on import and export in Türkiye; its purpose is to check whether products passing through customs genuinely carry the declared conformity. We explained this definition in detail in our article What Is TAREKS?.
The Fundamental Relationship: CE Is an Input, TAREKS Is a Control Mechanism
The CE mark is just one of the elements assessed in TAREKS review; TAREKS's role is to check whether the manufacturer's CE declaration is genuine, whether the product actually conforms to that declaration. For this reason, the CE mark is not "exemption from TAREKS," but "input to the TAREKS review." A product entering a TAREKS-scope product group without a CE mark gets a directly negative result; but carrying the CE mark also doesn't mean automatic approval.
Why Doesn't the CE Mark Guarantee Passing TAREKS?
TAREKS review does not only check whether a physical CE mark exists on the product; it also questions whether the technical file, declaration of conformity and labeling behind that mark are consistent and complete. A CE-marked product with an incomplete technical file, a declaration of conformity that doesn't match the product, or a user manual that isn't in Turkish can get a negative result in TAREKS document review. For this reason, the CE mark is a "necessary but not sufficient on its own" element; we also covered this distinction in our article Does My Machine Fall Within TAREKS Scope?.
Does TAREKS Approval Mean the CE Mark Is Always Valid?
No. Getting a favorable result from TAREKS means that specific shipment was released at customs; this is not a guarantee that the product will remain CE-compliant under all conditions for as long as it's on the market. Once placed on the market, the product can also be examined by market surveillance and inspection authorities; we covered this in detail in our article What Do CE Audits Look At?. In other words, TAREKS approval is a control point at the customs stage; it does not change the fact that CE compliance is an ongoing responsibility.
Is CE Scope Identical to TAREKS/ÜGD Scope?
Although they largely overlap, CE scope (which products are subject to CE directives) and TAREKS/ÜGD scope (which HS Codes are subject to inspection) are not identical. A product may be within CE scope but not yet be on the inspected HS Code list in the current ÜGD communiqués, or the reverse situation may occur. For this reason, both scopes need to be checked separately, via HS Code; we covered this in our article How Is the HS Code (GTİP) Determined?.
How Does a Fake or Unjustified CE Mark Come to Light in TAREKS?
TAREKS document review, and TSE technical review when it comes into play, question not just the presence of a CE mark but the technical justification behind it. Inconsistencies such as standard references not being current, test reports not matching the product, or the technical file looking generic/template-based can reveal an unjustified or unsupported CE declaration during review. We covered how technical file review is carried out in our article How Is Technical File Review Carried Out?.
Relevant Directives and Standards
The legal basis of the CE mark is formed by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, which sets out the general principles of market surveillance and CE marking, along with product-specific directives (Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, LVD 2014/35/EU, RED 2014/53/EU, etc.). The legal framework of TAREKS, on the other hand, is the Product Safety and Inspection (ÜGD) communiqués published by the Ministry of Trade. Although the two mechanisms rest on different legislation, they serve the same fundamental purpose: ensuring safe and compliant products are placed on the market.
| Topic | CE Mark | TAREKS |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Manufacturer's declaration / marking | Risk-based control system at customs |
| Who applies it? | The manufacturer (or with notified body involvement) | Units under the Ministry of Trade |
| When does it apply? | Before the product is placed on the market, at the production stage | During import, at the customs declaration stage |
| Sufficiency of CE | - | Necessary but not sufficient on its own |
Step-by-Step Process
- Determine which CE directives your product is subject to.
- Separately check whether the same product falls within TAREKS/ÜGD scope via its HS Code.
- Prepare the technical file and declaration of conformity behind the CE mark completely.
- Prepare the user manual in Turkish and in compliance with legislation.
- Make all documents consistent with each other before the TAREKS application.
- Manage CE compliance as an ongoing responsibility even after import.
Most Common Mistakes
- Thinking the CE mark makes a TAREKS application unnecessary.
- Assuming CE scope and TAREKS/ÜGD scope are identical.
- Neglecting to prepare the technical file and declaration of conformity just because a physical CE mark exists.
- Thinking TAREKS approval is a guarantee the product will remain CE-compliant forever.
- Not checking the currency of the standard references behind the CE mark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the CE mark make a TAREKS application unnecessary?
No, if a product imported within CE scope also falls within TAREKS/ÜGD scope, the TAREKS application and, if required, its inspection must still be carried out even if it carries the CE mark. The CE mark does not bypass this process — it is part of it.
Does TAREKS approval mean the CE mark is valid?
Getting a favorable result from TAREKS means that particular shipment was released at customs; but this is not a guarantee that the product will remain CE-compliant under all conditions forever. Market surveillance audits can also examine the product once it is on the market.
Can a product without a CE mark pass TAREKS?
For a product within CE scope, the CE mark is a mandatory precondition; a product without a CE mark gets a negative result in TAREKS review and is held or rejected at customs.
Is a fake or unjustified CE mark detected in TAREKS?
TAREKS's document review, and TSE technical review if needed, can question the authenticity of the technical file and test reports behind the CE mark; an inconsistent or unsupported CE declaration can come to light during review.
Does a CE-marked product with an incomplete technical file pass TAREKS?
No, the physical presence of the CE mark alone is not sufficient; if supporting documents such as the technical file and declaration of conformity cannot be provided when requested during TAREKS document review, the product may be assessed negatively.
Why is the CE mark still required for a product coming from outside the EU?
The CE mark depends not on the country where the product was manufactured, but on which market it will be placed on; a product within CE scope to be placed on the Turkish or EU market must carry the CE mark regardless of which country it comes from.
Is the CE mark required for a product not within TAREKS scope?
The CE mark requirement depends on whether the product falls within the scope of the relevant EU directive; while TAREKS/ÜGD scope and CE scope largely overlap, they are not identical, so both scopes need to be checked separately.
What aspect of the CE mark is most scrutinized in TAREKS review?
Whether the declaration of conformity behind the CE mark exactly matches the product, and whether the technical file is consistent with the declared standards, are the points most frequently scrutinized in TAREKS review.
Who issues the CE mark, and who issues TAREKS approval?
No authority formally "issues" the CE mark; the manufacturer affixes it based on its own declaration. TAREKS approval, on the other hand, is issued by the relevant units under the Ministry of Trade following a risk-based assessment.
Can a product be outside the scope of both CE and TAREKS?
Yes, some product groups may fall within the scope of neither CE directives nor TAREKS/ÜGD communiqués; in this case it should be separately checked whether another relevant piece of legislation (for example food or cosmetics legislation) applies.
Conclusion
The CE mark and TAREKS are two different mechanisms that complement but do not replace each other. CE is a legal declaration the manufacturer affixes to its product; TAREKS is an inspection system that verifies at customs whether that declaration is genuine. Clarifying this distinction from the start prevents both unwarranted confidence assumptions and surprise delays that can occur at customs.
Let's clarify your CE and TAREKS process together. For more information, see our TAREKS & Import consultancy service or get in touch.
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