Insights E-Commerce

Amendments to the Law on Electronic Commerce (“Amendments”), and New Regulation on Electronic Commerce Intermediary Service Providers and Electronic Commerce Service Providers (“Regulation”) which impose significant obligations on operators (“Marketplace Operator”) of e-marketplaces (“Marketplace”) and e-commerce sellers/providers (“Seller/Provider”), have entered into force as of 1 January 2023[1].

1. What Are Geographical Data and Geographic Information Systems? According to the legislation on Geographical Data and Geographic Information Systems: Geographical data (“Geodata”) is “any kind of data containing location information”. For example, administrative units, toponyms, building and address information are within this scope.Geographic Information Systems (“GIS”) are the “set of hardware, software, human resources, standards, and methods necessary for the production, supply, storage, processing, management, analysis, sharing, presentation and keeping up to date of Geodata”.

Bilindiği gibi 7 Temmuz 2022 tarihli Resmî Gazete’de, çevrim içi ortamda pazar yeri işleten ve gerek bu pazar yerlerinde gerek kendi internet sitelerinde satış yapan kişiler yönünden çok önemli yükümlülükler getiren Elektronik Ticaretin Düzenlenmesi Hakkında Kanun’da (“Kanun”) yapılan değişiklikler (“Kanun Değişikliği”) yayımlanmıştı. Kanun Değişikliği ile getirilen değişikliklerin detaylandırılmasını amaçlayan Elektronik Ticaret Aracı Hizmet Sağlayıcı ve Elektronik Ticaret Hizmet Sağlayıcılar Hakkında Yönetmelik de 29 Aralık 2022 tarihli Resmî Gazete’de yayımlandı.

6563 sayılı Elektronik Ticaretin Düzenlenmesi Hakkında Kanun’da (“Kanun”) yapılan değişiklik kapsamında hazırlanan ve 29.12.2022 tarihli ve 32058 sayılı Resmi Gazete’de yayınlanan Elektronik Ticaret Aracı Hizmet Sağlayıcı ve Elektronik Ticaret Hizmet Sağlayıcılar Hakkında Yönetmelik (“Yönetmelik”) ile getirilen başlıca düzenlemeler.

Pursuant to the Cosmetic Regulation, the definition of a cosmetic product is "all preparations or substances prepared to be applied to different external parts of the human body; epidermis, nails, hairs, hair, lips, and external genital organs, or teeth, and oral mucosa; and its sole or primary purpose are to clean, scent, change appearance of, protect these parts, keep them in good condition or fix body odors".

The Regulation on Electronic Commerce Intermediary Service Providers and Electronic Commerce Service Providers (“Regulation”) was published in the Official Gazette on 29.12.2022. Within the scope of this Regulation, it is aimed to determine the procedures and principles required to establish an effective and fair competition environment and to ensure the development of electronic commerce.

The Law on the Regulation of Electronic Commerce was amended on 07.07.2022. Accordingly, the Regulation on Electronic Commerce Intermediary Service Providers and Electronic Commerce Service Providers (“Regulation”) was published in the Official Gazette on 29.12.2022. Within the scope of the relevant Regulation, the obligations of electronic commerce intermediary service providers (“ETAHS”) and electronic commerce service providers (“ETHS”), unfair commercial practices in electronic commerce, illegal content, intermediation agreement, electronic commerce license and other issues related to electronic commerce are regulated.

Turkish Competition Authority (“Authority”) prepared a Draft Bill (“Draft Bill”) in order to amend the Law on Protection of Competition with numbered 4054 (“Competition Law”) recently and shared it with various institutions to receive their opinions and evaluations.