New Draft Prepared for Food Additives Regulation

November 3, 2026 · GıdaTarım

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has submitted the draft Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives to stakeholders for evaluation, aiming for alignment with European Union legislation.

Step Towards Alignment with EU Legislation

The General Directorate of Food and Control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has announced a significant legislative preparation that directly impacts the food industry and processing standards. The draft Regulation Amending the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives, prepared in line with the latest updates to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, has been submitted to stakeholders for evaluation. The main regulation, first published in the Official Gazette dated October 13, 2023, and numbered 32338 (repeated), is thus being technically updated to achieve full compliance with European Union norms.

Sector Opinions and Timeline

Within the scope of the draft text, comprehensive technical changes are being made to the lists of additives and their conditions of use in Annex-2, Annex-3, and Annex-6 of the regulation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has set a deadline of November 27, 2026, for sector representatives, producers, and professional organizations to submit their opinions on the draft. According to the Ministry's statement, after reviewing the technical feedback collected by this date, the draft regulation will be finalized and will enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Transition Provisions Granted to Businesses

With the addition of Transitional Article 3 to the draft regulation, food businesses are granted an extensive transition timeline to enable them to comply. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry included the following statements in the draft text of Transitional Article 3:

'Food businesses operating before the publication date of the Regulation introducing this article must comply with the provisions of this Regulation by 31/12/2028. Food businesses operating before the publication date of the Regulation introducing this article are obliged to operate in accordance with the provisions in force before the publication date of the Regulation introducing this article, until they comply with the provisions of this Regulation. Products placed on the market by food businesses operating before the publication date of the Regulation introducing this article before 31/12/2028 and foodstuffs containing these products may remain on the market until the end of their shelf life.'

It was announced that products placed on the market before the specified date of December 31, 2028, can remain on the market until the end of their shelf life, businesses will be subject to the old existing rules until they adapt to the new regulations, and enforcement will be provided by the Ministry.

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