Ministry Sets New Standards for Drinking Milk

September 16, 2026 · Milliyet Ekonomi

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has updated the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Drinking Milks, simplifying fat classification, limiting sugar content, and imposing strict rules on the 'natural' label.

Comprehensive Changes in Milk Regulation

The Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Drinking Milks, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has been published in the Official Gazette and entered into force. With the amendment, the definition of milk-based beverages, which had no market equivalent, has been completely removed from the legislation. In line with the new regulation, product standards and labeling criteria in the dairy industry have been redefined from scratch.

New Standards for Fat Classification

Within the scope of the regulation, a simplification has been made in the fat content of drinking milks. Intermediate fat classes, previously sold with different percentages on labels, have been completely abolished. In the new period, only milks classified as full-fat, high-fat, low-fat, and skimmed will be offered to the market. Naming outside these four main categories has been banned, aiming to prevent consumers from encountering misleading fat content information.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı explained the rationale behind the regulations and the change in fat classification with the following words:

'Milk-based beverage was defined as 'a beverage containing at least fifty percent drinking milk by weight in the final product.' However, there are no products marketed as milk-based beverages. Products offered to the market containing milk are defined either as flavored drinking milk or as a milk-containing beverage. For this reason, we have removed the definition from the Regulation. To prevent consumer deception, we have also made a significant change regarding the fat classification of drinking milks. Intermediate fat classifications, which did not comply with the full-fat, low-fat, skimmed classes and were marketed with the fat content written on the label as '% ... fat', have been eliminated. With the new Regulation, arrangements have been made for full-fat, high-fat, low-fat, and skimmed. The new classification has made the fat classification of drinking milks more understandable for consumers. Offering drinking milk to the market with very different fat ratios that could cause consumer deception will no longer be possible.'

Strict Control on Sugar and Flavoring

The regulation introduces clear quotas for the ingredients of flavored and aromatic drinking milks. According to the Ministry's statement, the minimum flavoring content in flavored milks has been limited to at least 1% by weight. The added sugar content that can be added to products has been determined as a maximum of 5% by weight, and the total sugar content as a maximum of 9.5%. Furthermore, the addition of glucose and fructose syrups to milk has been banned, with only white sugar types and natural flavorings being approved for use.

'Natural' Label and Transition Period

The use of the term 'natural' on the packaging of drinking milks has been regulated. This term will only be permitted on full-fat and high-fat milks that contain no additives; it will not be usable on lactose-free products. Existing businesses operating in the sector will have until March 31, 2027, to transition to the new rules.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made the following remarks regarding the sugar and labeling regulations:

'The 'sugar' to be added to drinking milks is limited to semi-white sugar, white sugar, and extra white sugar as defined in the Turkish Food Codex Sugar Regulation. The addition of sugar derivatives such as glucose and fructose syrup, other than sucrose, to drinking milks is now prevented. A regulation has been made for the use of only 'natural flavorings' as flavoring substances in drinking milks. Furthermore, a regulation has been made regarding the use of the term 'natural' in drinking milks. Accordingly, the term natural can only be used in full-fat and high-fat drinking milks. Drinking milks where the term natural is used will not contain any additional components such as additives, flavoring substances, flavorings, etc. The term 'natural' cannot be used in lactose-free or reduced-lactose drinking milks. I wish that our new regulations will be beneficial and auspicious for our consumers and our sector. Our work continues uninterruptedly to ensure food safety, prevent the deception of our consumers, and prevent unfair competition among food businesses.'

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