Turkey changes its name to Türkiye

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Turkey Skyline Hot Air Balloons Teal Overlay

“The Republic of Turkey” has officially changed its English name to “The Republic of Türkiye” (pronounced “Tur-key-yeah”), in line with the Turkish name for the country.

The name change began in December when a notice was issued to residents by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asking them to use the name in correspondence of any language.

In June, the United Nations accepted the request from Türkiye to recognise their new English name.

In July, Türkiye notified the European Commission that they should start applying this name change to their laws surrounding customs and trade.

But why has Türkiye renamed itself, and what does this mean for your business with Türkiye? Find out in this article.

Changes in customs documents

If you are purchasing from Türkiye, then your documents will likely have been changed to reflect the new English name. This includes trader’s addresses, origin statements, and preferential certificates like EUR1 and ATR1.

Although the underlying laws in the European Union have not been changed to reflect the change from Turkey to Türkiye, members of the EU are accepting documents that show the new name when goods are moving through customs. Similarly, goods that are consigned to Türkiye are accepted by Turkish customs with the old name.

There are currently no timelines for when documents will require the correct name; however, you should instruct your suppliers to make these changes as soon as possible.

“Made in Türkiye”

Goods manufactured in Türkiye will no longer state “Made in Turkey”.

Why has Türkiye changed its name?

At the time of issuing a statement to Türkiye’s citizens about the name change, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said:

“Türkiye is accepted as an umbrella brand for our country in national and international venues”. “Türkiye is the best representation and expression of the Turkish people’s culture, civilization and values.”

National Public Radio also speculated that the English word “Turkey” is related to a bird, and that the word is also used as slang for something or someone that doesn’t work. The change to Türkiye is an opportunity to dissociate the country from this and align it with how the citizens see their country.  An observer commented to NPR that “it would be similar to calling Germany Deutschland”.

What do you need to do about the change from Turkey to Türkiye?  

If you are trading with Türkiye, then you need to check that your documents are updated to the new name as soon as possible. Customs clearance is currently permitted with the old name; however, this will change in due course.

The commercial documents that you need to check include, but are not limited to:

  • Commercial Invoice
  • Packing List
  • Certificate of Origin
  • EUR1
  • ATR1
  • EUR-MED
  • Import and export licenses
  • Veterinary Certificates
  • Phytosanitary Certificates
  • Aflatoxin Certificates
  • Dangerous Goods Notes
  • Lab reports

Customs Support is here for you if you need help assessing your supply chain.