Türkiye: Official changes to allow recycled plastics in contact with food

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey, through the General Directorate of Food and Control (Gıda ve Kontrol Genel Müdürlüğü), has published the draft regulation titled “Türk Gıda Kodeksi Gıda ile Temas Eden Madde ve Malzemelere Dair Yönetmelikte Değişiklik Yapılmasına Dair Yönetmelik” which proposes amendments to the existing regulation on materials and articles in contact with food.

Table of contents

• Main points of the draft

• Implications

Türkiye: Official changes to allow recycled plastics in contact with food

Main points of the draft

These are the changes the draft proposes, according to the official text:

1. Elimination of the ban on the use of recycled plastics. The current regulation prohibits the use of recycled plastics in materials and articles that come into contact with food. The draft proposes eliminating this ban.

2. New rules for production scraps and surpluses ("çapak ve kenar fireleri"). Additional rules will be introduced for the reprocessing of chips, trimmings, or surpluses that arise during the plastic manufacturing process. This is intended to control internally generated waste before it is converted into food-safe recycled material.

3. Updating legislative references The draft also contemplates updating the references to current legislation, that is, the articles, rules, or decrees cited in the regulation, to align them with more recent standards or applicable international regulations.

4. Public Comment Deadline The draft invites public comments. The deadline for submitting these comments is September 30, 2025 .

   
   

Implications

With the data from the draft, some important implications can be foreseen , although this will depend on the final wording approved by the government:

• Sustainability improvements : If approved, this measure would promote wider use of recycled plastic, potentially reducing plastic waste and increasing reuse, provided safety controls are in place.

• Stricter technical requirements : To avoid risks, the new rules for production waste will involve stricter requirements regarding traceability, cleaning, chemical testing, substance migration control, etc.

• Industry Adaptation : Companies that could benefit or be affected will need to adapt their processes if they want their recycled materials to be suitable for food contact under the new standards.

• Consumer Protection : The change aims to maintain food safety, but effective regulatory controls will be crucial to ensure that recycled products actually meet the necessary criteria.

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