Flavoring Regulations in the Food Sector Re-established
· 24saatgazetesi.com
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has renewed the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Flavorings, imposing a complete ban on flavorings named after pork, insects, and alcohol.
The Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Flavorings and Food Ingredients with Flavoring Properties, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has been published in the Official Gazette and officially entered into force. The previous regulation dated December 29, 2011, has been comprehensively revised in line with the latest updates in European Union legislation and on-site needs. With this fundamental amendment, changes made to the legislation on different dates have been consolidated under a single umbrella. The new regulation aims to update national legislation in the food sector and ensure uniformity in application.
As a result of risk and reliability assessments conducted across the European Union, 10 flavoring agents with safety concerns have been completely removed from the list. Furthermore, 1 new flavoring agent that successfully passed safety tests has been included in the officially authorized list. Additionally, evaluation rules for components within the scope of Genetically Modified Organisms have been tightened. The Ministry has strengthened its scientific and legal infrastructure to include substances not subject to approval processes in risk analysis in cases of doubt.
The Ministry's new regulation includes notable provisions aimed at consumer protection and preventing counterfeit production. To prevent illicit alcohol production, the marketing of flavorings using any alcoholic beverage name has been strictly prohibited. Clear restrictions have also been imposed on food businesses engaged in retail sales. Specifically, practices that mislead consumers have been prevented by prohibiting the creation of a fruit impression on non-fruity products, particularly in patisseries, by spraying flavorings.
In line with consumer sensitivities, the use of pork and insect-derived flavoring agents in the food sector has been completely banned. The source materials used in the production of these substances will also not be permitted to be added to food products in any way. The new set of rules implemented by the Ministry aims to protect both consumer health and increase transparency in the market. The regulation has elevated the inspection standards in the food chain to the highest level.
| Value | Period | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 10 units | — | Number of flavorings removed from the list |
| 1 unit | — | Number of flavorings added to the list |
| 2011 year | 29 December 2011 | Date of previous regulation |