Time in Turkey is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. From April through October, Daylight Savings Time is used. TSE, an accredited agency in international markets, issues the guarantee certificates. Almost all the major companies seek TSE's certification for their products. This certificate helps to ensure manufacturers fair competition and ensures the consumer of the quality of goods purchased.
Turkey ranks third among European countries in terms of number of standards.
The obligatory standards cover goods ranging from foodstuffs to medical equipment. Importers must receive TSE's approval on imports of goods covered by obligatory standards. About 220 foreign companies which export their products to the Turkish market have received TSE certificates for 586 products. Some of these are Philips, Hitachi, Siemens and General Electric. Following Turkey's resolution to implement the ISO 9000 Quality Management Standards in 1988, the TSE prepared the compatible TS-ISO 9000 Turkish Standards.