Turkish Food Codex Novel Foods Regulation
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This regulation sets the rules for placing novel foods on the Turkish market. It creates a safety and approval framework for foods or food ingredients that have not been widely consumed before, with the stated goal of protecting public health and consumer rights. Food producers, importers, distributors, and applicants bringing new food products to Turkey will need to check whether their products fall within the novel food rules and, if so, follow the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s application, notification, and risk assessment process. The regulation excludes products already covered by separate rules on GMOs, food enzymes, additives, flavourings, and extraction solvents.
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Key Changes
- Creates a regulatory framework for approving novel foods before they are placed on the Turkish market
- Requires applicants to submit applications or notifications for Ministry review and scientific risk assessment
- Clarifies that GMOs, food enzymes, additives, flavourings, and extraction solvents remain covered by separate food regulations
Obligations
What this law requires
Before placing a food or food ingredient on the Turkish market, determine whether it qualifies as a 'novel food' covered by the Türk Gıda Kodeksi Yeni Gıdalar Yönetmeliği rather than falling under excluded regimes such as GMOs, food enzymes, additives, flavourings, or extraction solvents.
For novel foods covered by the regulation, submit the required application to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate for evaluation before marketing the product in Turkey.
Where relying on a history of safe food consumption in another country, support the notification with composition data and evidence that the food has been consumed for at least 25 years as part of the customary diet by a significant part of the population in at least one country.