Mr. Avni DİLBER, Director General of Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance of the Ministry of Trade, and Mr. Hakan CİRİT, Head of the Department of Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance of the Ministry of Trade, participated in the 5th Direct Selling Conference held on December 19 for the 30th anniversary of the Direct Selling Association. The officials shared information about important developments for companies operating in the direct sales sector and consumers. Within the framework of the information shared, with the recent amendments to the Law on Consumer Protection, the right of withdrawal period granted to consumers in direct sales has been updated as 30 days. This period, which was previously 14 days, has been increased to 30 days only within the scope of direct sales, while the right of withdrawal period in distance sales continues to be 14 days, while the return processes in shopping from stores vary completely depending on company policies.
While this new regulation enables consumers to exercise their rights more strongly in direct sales, it is also considered as an important step that enables reliable companies to stand out in the sector. While the 30-day right of withdrawal allows consumers to evaluate the products or services they purchase in a healthier way, it also provides an advantage for companies that offer a transparent and ethical sales process. These structural and legal regulations in Direct Sales aim to increase the reliability of Direct Sales.
The new legal regulations include important changes to make the structure of the direct selling system more robust and reliable:
Member Chain Prohibition: Unsustainable member chain structures are banned in the direct selling system. With the new regulation, systems that generate income only through new member registration are prevented, and a structure based on the sale of real products and services has been made compulsory.
Obligation to be a Capital Company: Direct selling companies are now required to operate as capital companies. This regulation increases reliability in the sector and ensures that consumers only work with companies that have a sound financial structure and fulfill legal requirements.
Regulation on Seller Fees and Career Level: In order for direct sellers to join or remain in the system, it is prohibited to receive any fee or document that puts them under debt under the names of renewal, package, fee, dues and similar names that do not include the goods or services foreseen to be sold to the consumer. Furthermore, the purchase of goods or services in the quantity or amount determined by the direct selling company will not determine the level of the direct seller within the system.
Issuance of Authorization Certificate for Sales Outside the Workplace: After the new system enters into force, direct selling companies will no longer be required to obtain an Off-Premise Sales Authorization Certificate. However, existing companies will need to update their authorization certificates, which are due for renewal by 2025.
These new regulations are seen as important elements that will increase consumer confidence in the sector. Reliable companies will prioritize customer satisfaction by fully complying with the laws, while companies that adopt transparency and ethical sales approach will continue to grow further in the sector.
As Creaware Software, with our membership in the Direct Selling Association, we offer the best solutions for Direct Selling companies on digitalization and legal compliance in Direct Selling. We will continue to support companies to work transparently, ethically and in compliance with the law. At the same time, we continue to encourage investments in Turkey by high quality, reliable, long-standing direct selling companies based abroad that have not yet launched in Turkey and have potential to grow the market. Creaware is with you to increase your credibility in the sector and maximize your customer satisfaction with our digital solutions!
