Turkey Ministry of Trade issues millions in fines for unsafe products and illegal social media ads

The Turkish Ministry of Trade has conducted extensive inspections across the country, resulting in significant administrative fines for non-compliant businesses. In the first half of 2026, the Ministry inspected 4,704 firms, issuing 8.6 million TL in fines for unsafe products in sectors including textiles, furniture, and children's toys.

Additionally, the Ministry targeted fraudulent digital advertising. A total of 82 businesses—comprising 42 real estate agencies and 40 automotive galleries—were fined 8.2 million TL for violating regulations on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. These businesses failed to comply with the Electronic Advertisement Verification System (EİDS), which requires identity and authority verification for real estate and vehicle listings.

Beyond financial penalties, the Ministry announced that access to the non-compliant social media accounts will be blocked by META. To avoid sanctions, businesses must include verified EİDS links and clear pricing in their digital advertisements.