On September 8, 2025, Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry published a draft amendment to the Food Codex Regulation on Food Contact Substances and Materials, officially lifting the ban on the use of recycled plastics in food packaging and introducing rules for the reprocessing of plastic production scraps.

Background The original 2018 regulation established requirements for food contact substances, including approvals, compliance declarations, and rules for active and intelligent materials. The new draft updates departmental references, aligns with current EU standards, adds environmental and recycling provisions, and provides a transition period for businesses.

Key Amendments

· Recycled Plastics: Use of recycled plastics in food contact materials is now permitted, provided they meet relevant regulatory standards.

· Plastic Scrap Reprocessing: Reprocessing of scraps and burrs generated during plastic production is allowed, subject to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and new provisions set out in Annex 7.

Annex 7 Requirements

· Process scraps must be collected separately from general waste and kept uncontaminated through sealed, dedicated containers or pipelines.

· Collected materials must be traceable, numbered by batch, and transported under controlled conditions to reprocessing facilities.

· Operators must implement quality assurance systems to prevent mixing of materials and ensure traceability at all stages before reintegration into production.

The draft regulation takes effect upon publication, with businesses required to comply by November 30, 2026. Oversight will be conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

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