Penalties for marketing or selling products with health claims have been increased. Accordingly, fines of up to 4.75 million liras will be imposed on false health advertisements targeting consumers.

The Ministry of Health made adjustments to administrative fines for promotional and sales activities involving false health claims, in line with the revaluation rates for 2025. Under the existing regulations, these fines ranged from 20,000 to 300,000 liras. However, the new regulation stipulates that administrative fines starting at 316,724 liras will be imposed on individuals who promote and sell products using deceptive health claims on platforms such as social media, websites, and television channels. The maximum fines have been set at 4,750,319 liras. The new penalties to be applied in 2025 for product promotions and sales made with false health claims are as follows: “- For promotions and sales made through printed and visual promotional materials like sales points (herbalists, healthy living centers, product outlets), brochures, and billboards, the fines will start from 316,724 to 791,761 liras instead of 20,000 to 50,000 liras. – For promotions and sales made through websites, local or national print media outlets, and mobile phone messages, the fines will range from 791,761 to 1,583,462 liras instead of 50,000 to 100,000 liras. – For promotions and sales made through local television channels, local or national radio channels, fines will be between 1,583,462 to 2,375,188 liras instead of 100,000 to 150,000 liras. – For promotions and sales made through national television channels, fines will range from 2,375,188 to 4,750,319 liras instead of 150,000 to 300,000 liras.” 4,500 INTERNET SITES SHUT DOWN Last year, the Ministry of Health’s Turkey Medicine and Medical Devices Agency continued its inspections targeting those promoting and selling products with false health claims without slowing down. As part of this, 4,541 internet sites were requested to be shut down and 4,565 internet sites were reported to the Ministry of Commerce. A total of 23 companies were fined 2.45 million liras and faced criminal complaints. WHAT IS A HEALTH CLAIM? According to the Regulation on Health Claim Inspection, a statement that identifies the relationship between a product or its components with human health, alleging, or implying it, is referred to as a health claim. All products except for medicinal products, medical devices, and special medical purpose foods fall within the scope of health claim inspections. Statements implying negative impacts on health if not consumed, making references to the amount or rate of weight loss or gain, using testimonials related to products with health claims based on the experiences of individuals or being associated with national and international institutions, are not allowed.