Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Signs or Numbers Identifying the Batch to Which Foods Belong (Communiqué No: 2026/11)
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This regulation mandates that all food placed on the Turkish market must carry a batch/lot identification mark, number, letter or symbol. The batch is defined as a group of sales units produced under the same conditions, using the same raw materials and production method within a specific time period. Food business operators are responsible for assigning and marking the batch. The mark must be clearly visible, legible and indelible. It must usually be preceded by the letter 'P' or 'L' unless it is clearly distinguishable from other labelling information. Certain exemptions apply, including agricultural products delivered to temporary storage or processing facilities, non-prepacked foods sold directly to the final consumer, and packages with a surface area smaller than 10 cm².
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Key Changes
- All foods placed on the market must carry a batch identification mark; previously existing rules from 2012 are repealed
- Exemption for packages with largest surface area smaller than 10 cm²
- Batch mark must usually be preceded by 'P' or 'L' unless clearly distinguishable from other labelling
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
All food placed on the Turkish market must carry a batch/lot identification mark, number, letter or symbol that identifies the batch to which the food belongs
The batch identification mark or number must be preceded by the letter 'P' or 'L' unless it is clearly distinguishable from other labelling information on the label
The batch identification mark or number must be easily visible, clearly legible, and indelible (non-erasable) at all times
For pre-packaged foods, the batch mark or number and the 'P' or 'L' prefix (if required) must be placed directly on the packaging or on a label affixed to the packaging
For non-pre-packaged foods, the batch mark or number must be placed on the package/container or, if these do not exist, on the relevant commercial documents