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On 5 April 2018, Turkey adopted the Food Codex Regulation on Articles and Materials that Contact Food. This new regulation was prepared in accordance with European Union Regulation No. 1935/2004 on Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Food. The new regulation repealed the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Articles and Materials that Contact Food (Official Gazette dated 29 December 2011 and numbered 28157), and is effective on the date of publication, except for Article 8(i), (ii), (iv) and Articles 9 through 12 of the new regulation which will be effective on 31 December 2019. The new regulation is executed by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.
Affected products:
The regulation applies to materials and articles, including active and intelligent food contact materials and articles, which in their finished state:
- Are intended to be brought into contact with food; or
- Are already in contact with food and were intended for that purpose; or
- Can reasonably be expected to be brought into contact with food or to transfer their constituents to food under normal or foreseeable conditions of use.
Regulation:
Some of the important provisions include the following:
Article 6 provides special requirements for active and intelligent materials and articles, such as:
- Active materials and articles shall not bring about changes in the composition or organoleptic characteristics of food, for instance by masking the spoilage of food, which could mislead consumers;
- Intelligent materials and articles shall not give information about the condition of the food which could mislead consumers;
- Active and intelligent materials and articles already brought into contact with food shall be adequately labeled to allow identification by the consumer of non-edible parts; and
- Active and intelligent materials and articles shall be adequately labeled to indicate that the materials or articles are active and/or intelligent.
Articles 8 through 13 provide requirements for the authorization of substances; modification, suspension and revocation of authorization; and labeling.
Article 21 provides special provisions, such as:
- Recycled plastic cannot be used in the production of materials that come into contact with food, with certain exceptions;
- Pork-derived products cannot be used in the production of substances and materials that come in contact with food; and
- Plastic materials and materials that are in direct contact with food and protect food from external factors in the supply to the market can be used only once, with certain exceptions.
Compliance dates
The deadlines for compliance are as follows:
- Manufacturers must comply with the provisions of Table 1 in Paragraph 1 (c) of Annex 3 (regarding paper-based materials in contact with food) and Paragraph 1(ğ) of Annex 4 (regarding metal-based materials in contact with food) by 31 December 2019.
- Manufacturers must comply with the rest of the provisions by 31 December 2018.
- Manufacturers must comply with the provisions of the repealed regulation until compliance with the provisions of the new regulation.
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