DEVELOPMENTS ON MANDATORY USE OF THE PHRASE “TÜRKİYE” IN ALL CORRESPONDENCES AND ACTIVITIES

As we informed you in our Newsletter dated 8 December 2021, The Presidential Circular (“Circular”) numbered 2021/24 has been published in the Official Gazette dated 4 December 2021 and numbered 31679, encouraging the use of the phrase “Türkiye” in all correspondences activities to strengthen its brand.

Accordingly, the Circular within the scope of efforts to strengthen the “Türkiye” brand, the phrase “Türkiye” envisaged to be used in all kinds of activities and correspondence, especially in official relations with other states and international institutions and organizations, instead of phrases such as “Turkey”, “Turkei” and “Turquie”.

Following the above-mentioned legal development, the local associations and merchants active in exporting goods to abroad (i) petitioned the Ministry of Trade for more “time to be able to comply with this new requirement and (ii) claimed that the transitional period foreseen in the Circular would be insufficient considering the available labelling and packaging they held in their possession. Hence, the Ministry of Trade (the “Ministry”) issued a Statement numbered 70458431 postponing the mandatory use of “Türkiye” phrase until a further declaration.

In this respect, the practice of usage of “Turkey”, “Turkei” and “Turquie” continue to be used as per the above-mentioned Ministry’s Statement. The businesses in particular in the private sector may determine whichever phrase they wish to use in their labelling, correspondence and reports. According to the Ministry, there is currently no intention of abandoning such practice for the businesses in the private sector for now.
Our Law Firm remains at your disposal for any further clarifications you may need.