Frequently Asked Questions

Certification is the demonstration, as the result of a defined assessment process, that a product, service, process or management system meets specified requirements. In product certification, technical regulations, standards, tests, the technical file, production conditions and the conformity assessment method may be taken into account. In ISO certification, the extent to which the organisation meets the requirements of the relevant management system standard is assessed.

No. The required document or conformity assessment method may vary according to the product's technical characteristics, intended use, HS code, target country and the relevant legislation. For this reason, instead of determining a definitive document by looking only at the product name, the product's technical information and the target market must be assessed together.

First, the following are examined for the product: • Product name and model, • HS code, • Technical characteristics, • Intended use, • Manufacturer's details, • Target country, • Existing test reports, • CE, EAC or other existing documents On the basis of this information, the applicable technical regulation and conformity assessment method are determined.

The product does not need to be physically sent in every process. In some processes existing test reports and technical documents may be sufficient, while for some products sample testing, a factory inspection, product inspection or an assessment of the place of production may be required. The requirement is determined according to the product and the procedure to be applied.

The CE mark does not by itself mean a conformity document that is automatically valid in all countries. The target country may have its own technical regulations or regional legislation such as that of the EAEU. The CE certificate and test reports may be considered as technical documentation in some processes; however, whether a separate conformity assessment is required must be determined according to the product and the target market.

An ISO certificate is the document issued as the result of an assessment by an independent certification body of the organisation's conformity with the requirements of a specific ISO management system standard. Istanbul Certificate Office provides consultancy and coordination of the certification process in ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 22000, ISO 13485, ISO 27001, ISO 50001 and other related management system work.

This varies according to the organisation's field of activity and needs. For example, the following serve different purposes: • ISO 9001: Quality Management System • ISO 14001: Environmental Management System • ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management System • ISO 22000: Food Safety Management System • ISO 27001: Information Security Management System • ISO 13485: Medical Devices Quality Management System • ISO 50001: Energy Management System In some organisations, more than one management system can be applied together.

A conformity assessment and audit process is carried out according to the nature of the certification. Where accredited management system certification is concerned, the audit is carried out within the framework of the certification body's own rules and the relevant accreditation requirements. For this reason, it should be queried separately which certification model expressions such as “ISO certificate without an audit” or “ISO certificate with documents only” are being used for.

The validity period is assessed according to the certification programme, the standard and the rules applied by the certification body. In accredited management system certifications, periodic surveillance and recertification processes may be applied for the certificate to remain valid.

There is no general and automatic ISO certificate obligation for every organisation. However, in some sectors, public tenders, customer requirements, supplier assessments or contracts, a specific ISO standard may be requested as a condition. For this reason, the need for an ISO certificate should be assessed on the basis of the organisation's field of activity and commercial conditions.

EAC is the conformity mark showing that the requirements of the relevant technical regulations have been met on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) market. The conformity assessment to be applied under the EAEU is determined by the technical regulation the product is subject to.

Both are documents used in conformity assessment, but they are not the same document. Which product requires an EAC Certificate of Conformity and which requires an EAC Declaration of Conformity is determined by the relevant EAEU technical regulation and the conformity assessment scheme to be applied.

GOST-R is an important part of Russia's old national conformity system and is a term still widely used on the market. However, for many products covered by EAEU technical regulations, the current conformity assessment is carried out through the EAEU technical regulations and the EAC system. For this reason, the GOST-R or EAC requirement must be assessed product by product.

For the initial assessment, as far as possible, the following should be shared: • Product name and model, • HS code, • Technical characteristics, • Intended use, • Manufacturer's details, • Technical catalogue, • User manual, • Existing CE/test reports, • Information on the place of production On the basis of this information, the EAEU technical regulations the product may be subject to and the conformity assessment method can be determined.

The conformity documents required for export to Ukraine vary according to the technical regulations the product is subject to, the product group and the intended use. Different requirements may apply on a product basis, such as conformity assessment, tests, a technical file, a declaration or a certificate. The old Ukr-SEPRO system and the current Ukrainian technical regulations must be distinguished from each other.

The documents referred to on the market as a “Refusal Letter”, “Letter of Non-Requirement” or “Letter of Refusal” can be used to explain that a specific conformity assessment or certification requirement does not apply to a specific product. However, a Refusal Letter is not issued automatically for every product, nor is this document sufficient in every case. The product's position under current Ukrainian legislation must be assessed separately.

If the product falls under EAEU technical regulations, an EAC conformity assessment may come up. In addition, Kazakhstan may have its own national technical regulations and requirements for metrology, product safety or special product groups. For this reason, instead of making a general assessment in terms of a “Kazakhstan certificate” only, a review must be carried out on the basis of the product and the HS code.

SABER is the platform that enables the conformity assessment processes of products in Saudi Arabia to be carried out electronically. SASO is the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization. In the processes referred to on the market as the “SASO Certificate” or “SABER Certificate”, the relevant conformity assessment steps are determined according to the nature of the product.

The PCoC (Product Certificate of Conformity) is the product certificate of conformity. The SCoC (Shipment Certificate of Conformity) is the shipment certificate used in the conformity process of the relevant shipment. Which documents are required for which product is assessed on the basis of the SABER system, the product category and the relevant Saudi Arabian technical regulations.

SONCAP is the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme, which ensures that the conformity of certain products imported into Nigeria with the relevant standards and technical requirements is assessed. Under SONCAP, a product certificate, conformity assessment and shipment-related documents may be required depending on the nature of the product.

No. The SONCAP requirement is determined by the product's HS code, product category and the relevant regulations in Nigeria. For this reason, it is important to check the product's status under SONCAP before exporting.

In general, the process may proceed as follows: Determining the product and HS code → determining the applicable standards → document/test assessment → required product certificate → conformity assessment → shipment certificate → Nigerian customs procedures The steps to be applied may vary according to the nature of the product.

It is not correct to give a single standard duration. The duration may vary according to: • The scope of the product or organisation, • The tests required, • Whether the technical documentation is ready, • Whether a factory inspection is required, • The processing times of the certification body, • The procedures of the target country At the quotation stage, the product or organisation information is reviewed and an approximate process plan is drawn up.

The certification price is determined by the scope and the procedure to be applied rather than by a fixed tariff. In product certifications, tests, samples, factory inspection, technical file assessment and the type of document may affect the cost; in ISO work, the organisation's scope, number of employees, locations and certification programme may do so. For this reason, the scope must first be determined for accurate pricing.

For product certification, if possible, you can share: Product name + HS code + technical characteristics + model + intended use + target country + existing CE/EAC/test reports For ISO certification: Company's field of activity + number of employees + certificate scope + existing ISO certificates + location information + intended use of the certificate allows an adequate preliminary assessment to be made.

At Istanbul Certificate Office, we provide consultancy and process coordination in international certification, conformity assessment, testing, inspection and surveillance processes. The issue of the document may take place through the authorised/appropriate certification body, laboratory, inspection body or the relevant official system, according to the relevant legislation and certification programme. Setting out this distinction clearly is important for the certification process to be managed transparently and correctly.

The EAC Certificate of Conformity is the official conformity document showing that a product meets the requirements set out in the relevant EAEU technical regulation it falls under. During certification, the product's technical characteristics, the relevant standards and, where considered necessary, laboratory tests and production conditions are assessed.

Whether an EAC Certificate or another conformity assessment method is required is determined product by product. The scope of the relevant technical regulation should be checked in particular for machinery, equipment, electrical products, certain automotive products, pressure equipment and various industrial products.

The EAC Declaration of Conformity is the official conformity document declaring that the product meets the requirements of the relevant EAEU technical regulations. The declaration of conformity is based on the technical regulation the product falls under, the assessment method applied and the supporting documentation.

On the market, the terms “EAC Customs Union Certificate”, “Customs Union Certificate”, “TR CU Certificate” or “EAC Certificate” are sometimes used interchangeably. The basic concept here is documenting the product's conformity with the relevant technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union. In particular, the TR CU designations created under the former Customs Union (CU) technical regulations are still seen today in the names of many technical regulations within the EAEU system.

GOST-R is one of the older conformity and certification systems used in Russia. With the entry into force of the EAEU technical regulations, the EAC system has come to the fore for many product groups. However, this does not mean that GOST-R has disappeared completely for all products.

The documents referred to on the market as “GOST-K Certificate”, “GOST-K Quality Certificate” or “Kazakhstan GOST-K Certificate” relate to the terminology used for certifying a product's conformity with certain Kazakh requirements. In the current system, however, the legal nature of the document is determined not merely by the “GOST-K” wording, but by which technical regulation or standard the conformity assessment has been carried out against.

No. The old approach that a GOST-K certificate must automatically be obtained for every product exported to Kazakhstan is no longer correct today.

In Kazakhstan, a permit to use may be issued by the competent authority for certain technologies and hazardous technical devices to be used at hazardous production facilities. The current name of the official service is “Issuing permits for the use of technologies and hazardous technical devices used at hazardous production facilities”.

Depending on the product's area of use and technical characteristics, the following equipment may be subject to assessment in terms of industrial safety: Pressure vessels, Pressure tanks, Air tanks and receivers, Boilers, Steam equipment, Heat exchangers.

No. These two matters must be kept separate. Product conformity assessment is aimed at assessing whether the product meets the requirements of the relevant technical regulation and standards. GGTN / the permit to use, on the other hand, is the industrial safety procedure for the use of certain technologies and hazardous technical devices at hazardous production facilities in Kazakhstan.

For products requiring conformity assessment in terms of fire safety in Kazakhstan, whether the product meets the relevant technical requirements can be determined through testing, technical documentation and the applicable conformity assessment procedures. Under the legislation, conformity assessment in terms of fire safety may be mandatory for some products and voluntary for others, depending on the relevant legislation and demand.

Depending on the product's area of use and technical characteristics, the products that may be subject to assessment in terms of fire safety may include the following groups: Fire alarm systems, Fire detection equipment, Fire-extinguishing systems, Fire extinguishers, Fire safety equipment, Technical products used in fire safety systems.

We can determine on a product basis whether your product requires a Kazakhstan Fire Certificate, an EAEU conformity document, a test report or a different conformity assessment procedure.

The Technical Passport is a document prepared by the manufacturer that sets out the technical identity and basic operating characteristics of the product or equipment.

The Technical Specification is a technical document defining the design, production, technical characteristic, performance, safety and use requirements of the product.

Technical documentation is of great importance in particular for machinery, equipment and technical products used in industrial facilities.

For products exported to Kazakhstan, the technical documentation may need to be prepared in, or translated into, Kazakh and/or Russian, depending on the market where it will be used, the product and the applicable legislation. For this reason, it should not be assumed that a Turkish technical passport prepared in Türkiye can be used directly in Kazakhstan.

It is important for Turkish manufacturers and exporters wishing to export products to Ukraine to determine in advance, product by product, the conformity and document requirements so that their products can be placed on the market in Ukraine and import procedures can run smoothly.

UkrSEPRO is the name of Ukraine's old national product certification system. In the past, mandatory conformity certification under UkrSEPRO was applied in Ukraine for certain product groups, and this system was used as an important document for Turkish exporters. However, the mandatory product certification system in Ukraine has been abolished over time. According to the official statement of Ukraine's Ministry of Economy, the old list of products subject to mandatory certification was repealed on 28 January 2018.

The documents required may vary considerably depending on the characteristics of the product to be exported to Ukraine.

Before exporting to Ukraine, it must first be determined under which legislation the product will be assessed.

Companies planning to export to Ukraine are generally asked for the following information for a preliminary assessment: Product name, Product model, Product technical characteristics, HS code, Intended use, Manufacturer's details.

UkrSEPRO was Ukraine's old national product certification system.

The document required for export to Ukraine is determined according to the product's: Product category, Technical characteristics, Intended use, HS code, Relevant Ukrainian technical regulation, Conformity assessment procedure to be applied.

The name “UkrSEPRO Certificate” may continue to be used on the market, and some companies may offer a certificate under this name on request. However, because the mandatory UkrSEPRO certification system ended in 2018 in Ukraine, obtaining such a document should not be regarded as automatically mandatory for the product's entry into Ukraine. The official statements of Ukraine's Ministry of Economy also indicate that the old mandatory certification list was repealed as of 28 January 2018.

At Istanbul Certificate Office, in certification work for Ukraine we recommend first determining the product's scope under current legislation. The product's technical characteristics, intended use and product group are examined. The product's customs classification is assessed. The relevant technical regulation or regulations the product is subject to in Ukraine are determined. It is determined which conformity assessment procedure will be applied to the product.

The same test procedure is not applied to every product. The test requirement is determined according to: The product's technical characteristics, The relevant technical regulation, The conformity assessment method, The standards used.

The Ukraine Fire Certificate can be used to show that the product concerned meets the applicable technical requirements in terms of fire safety.

Depending on the characteristics of the product and the applicable technical requirements, testing or laboratory assessment may be required.

It is important for manufacturers regularly sending products to the Ukrainian market to determine the technical requirements their products are subject to before exporting.

If the product is directly or indirectly related to human health, the relevant legislation and technical requirements in Ukraine may need to be examined.

If it is determined that a hygienic or sanitary assessment is required for the product, the product's technical and composition information is examined first.

Before a product is offered on the Ukrainian market, matters such as the following need to be assessed: Which technical regulations the product is subject to, Whether a mandatory conformity assessment is required, Whether a declaration or certificate of conformity is required, Whether the product falls under a specific technical regulation.

The need for a refusal letter may vary according to the nature and intended use of the product.

The process referred to on the market in the past as the “Ukraine Medical Device Registration Certificate” must today be addressed together with the product's conformity assessment under the technical regulation. For a medical device to be placed on the market in Ukraine, the product must meet the requirements of the relevant technical regulation and the applicable conformity assessment procedure must be completed.

No. Today it cannot be said that a UkrSEPRO certificate must automatically be obtained for a medical device. Ukraine's old mandatory UkrSEPRO product certification system ended in 2018. For this reason, the old practice for medical devices of “first UkrSEPRO, then a Ministry of Health registration certificate” is not the general rule of the current system. Which conformity assessment procedure the product is subject to must be determined according to the relevant technical regulation.

Depending on the nature and class of the medical device, the following information and documents may be assessed: Product name, Model / reference number, Intended use, Technical characteristics, Product classification.

The conformity assessment procedure to be applied in Ukraine may vary depending on the classification of the product.

Type approval is the process of assessing whether a specific model or type of measuring instrument meets the relevant technical and metrological requirements and, if found to conform, including that type in the official register.

The type approval requirement is not determined merely by the product being a “measuring instrument”. The instrument's intended use and whether it is used in the field of legally regulated metrology are what matter.

SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) is Saudi Arabia's competent organisation in the field of standards, metrology and quality.

SABER is a platform that enables the conformity assessment and shipment processes of products imported into Saudi Arabia to be managed electronically. The exporter, manufacturer, importer and the relevant conformity assessment bodies can carry out the required procedures through the SABER system according to the technical regulation the product is subject to. The process to be applied may vary depending on whether the product is subject to a technical regulation.

The PCoC (Product Certificate of Conformity) is the Product Certificate of Conformity showing the product's conformity with the relevant technical regulation and requirements applicable in Saudi Arabia.

The SCoC (Shipment Certificate of Conformity) is the Shipment Certificate of Conformity showing that a specific shipment meets the conformity requirements for import into Saudi Arabia. While the PCoC relates more to the conformity of the product, the SCoC is issued for a specific shipment. For this reason, the existence of a valid PCoC for a product does not mean that the SCoC procedure required for the relevant shipment will not be carried out separately.

It is important for companies exporting products to Saudi Arabia to assess the conformity of their products with the relevant technical regulations before exporting.

The basic aim of SONCAP is to ensure that regulated products imported into Nigeria meet safety, quality and technical requirements. For products under SONCAP, conformity assessment can be carried out in the exporting country through Independent Accredited Firms (IAF) authorised by SON.

SONCAP applies to products regulated under SONCAP. For this reason, a general statement that a SONCAP certificate is automatically required for every product exported to Nigeria should not be used.

For regulated products under SONCAP, carrying out import and customs procedures without the required documents may cause serious problems. According to SON's official SONCAP statement, bringing regulated products into Nigeria without a SONCAP certificate may constitute a breach of the legislation, and products may face detention, testing or other sanctions.

PVoC (Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards) is a system that ensures that regulated products to be sent to Kenya are assessed for conformity before export.

The CoC (Certificate of Conformity) is the document showing that the product's conformity with the applicable Kenyan standard, technical regulation or approved specifications has been verified in the PVoC process. For products under PVoC, the exporter must ensure that the products meet the required conditions and have undergone the required conformity assessment before shipment. KEBS's PVoC Manual Version 15 states that exporters must ensure that the required CoC is issued before shipment for products under PVoC.

It cannot be said that the same PVoC procedure will automatically be applied to every product.

For products under PVoC, obtaining the required conformity document before shipment is the main process. Under KEBS's current practice, destination inspection and/or testing may be applied to products arriving without the required CoC or relevant document. KEBS's announcement of February 2026 also states that certain imports without a valid CoC may be subject to destination inspection.

A general approach that the same type of CoC document is automatically mandatory for every product exported to Algeria should not be used.

ISO 9001 is the quality management standard that sets out internationally recognised requirements for organisations to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve their quality management systems.

ISO 9001 certification ensures that the conformity of the organisation's quality management system with the relevant ISO 9001 requirements is assessed by an independent certification body.

ISO 9001 is not limited to a specific sector. For example, it can be applied in very different fields of activity such as: Machinery and metal industry, Automotive and supplier industry, Food and packaging, Construction and engineering, Electrical and electronics, Furniture and manufacturing.

ISO 14001 is the international Environmental Management System (EMS) standard created so that organisations can systematically manage their environmental impacts, improve their environmental performance and manage environmental legal and other applicable requirements.

ISO 14001 can be applied in different sectors and in organisations of different sizes.

ISO 45001 is an international management system standard for organisations to systematically manage occupational health and safety (OH&S) risks, create safer working conditions for workers and other relevant persons, and continually improve occupational health and safety performance.

ISO 45001 can be applied in organisations of different sectors and sizes.

ISO 22000 is a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) standard that enables organisations in the food chain to systematically manage food safety hazards and supports the safe production, processing, storage, transport or serving of food. The current standard is ISO 22000:2018. The ISO 22000:2005 edition has been withdrawn and replaced by ISO 22000:2018. According to ISO's official records, ISO 22000:2018 is still the current standard, and the amendment Amd 1:2024 – Climate Action Changes was published in 2024.

ISO 22000 creates a systematic structure for identifying, assessing and controlling the hazards that may arise in terms of food safety.

ISO 22000 can be applied by organisations operating at different stages of the food chain.

ISO 13485:2016 is an international standard developed for the quality management systems of organisations operating in the medical device sector.

ISO 13485 can be applied not only by medical device manufacturers but also by different organisations involved in the life cycle of medical devices.

ISO/IEC 27001 is the international Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard that enables organisations to manage information security risks systematically. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 aims at establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving a management system for protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information the organisation holds or manages. The standard is designed so that it can be applied whatever the organisation's size, sector or field of activity.

Today, information security does not consist only of taking technical measures against cyber attacks. Information security requires many elements to be managed together, including people, processes, technology, physical security, suppliers, access rights, business continuity and legal requirements.

ISO/IEC 27001 can be applied in many different sectors where information security risks are important.

ISO 50001 is the international Energy Management System (EnMS) standard for organisations to systematically manage their energy performance and to continually improve it by monitoring energy use and consumption. The current standard is ISO 50001:2018. The ISO 50001:2011 edition has been withdrawn and replaced by the ISO 50001:2018 standard. In addition, Amd 1:2024, containing the changes relating to climate change, was published for the standard in 2024.

ISO 50001 can be applied by organisations of different sizes and sectors that use energy.