Turkey has officially amended its Food Codex Regulation to allow the use of recycled plastics in materials intended to come into contact with food. This regulatory development, which entered into force on September 15, 2025, marks a significant shift in national policy toward circularity and sustainability in packaging, while emphasizing safety and strict quality control.
Table of Contents
Regulatory Amendment Overview
The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry submitted the amendment to the World Trade Organization and introduced key updates in Article 21 of the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Materials and Substances in Contact with Food.
Permission for Recycled Plastics in Food Contact
The amendment introduces a new paragraph allowing recycled plastics to be used in the production of materials and articles that come into contact with food. This must be done in accordance with the “Regulation on the Use of Recycled Plastics in Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Food.”
Quality and Traceability Requirements
To ensure material safety, operators are required to:
- Implement a quality control system during reprocessing.
- Prevent mixing of plastics with different compositions, non-plastic materials, or other waste.
- Maintain traceability of material batches throughout all stages of reprocessing and transfer.
Operational Obligations: Handling of Production Scrap and By-products
The amendment permits the reprocessing of production scraps, edge trimmings, and similar by-products under good manufacturing practices and conditions set out in Annex 7.
These materials must:
- Be collected separately near the production site.
- Be handled in clean, purpose-specific containers, pipes, or belts.
- Be properly sealed and labeled to avoid contamination.
Transitional Compliance Deadline & Implementation
Operators must fully comply with the new provisions by November 30, 2026. This transitional period allows companies to adapt their processes and integrate approved recycled plastics into their production workflows.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for enforcing the amended regulation.
Safety Considerations and Industry Implications
While the amendment supports sustainability goals, it also brings safety considerations to the forefront. Previous research by the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) highlighted potential risks associated with recycled plastics in food contact applications, including:
- Chemical migration into food.
- Long-term material stability issues.
- Complexity of unknown or unregulated chemical substances.
- Limited hazard data for certain recycled materials.
These concerns underscore the importance of the mandated quality assurance and traceability systems.
Conclusion
Turkey’s decision to allow recycled plastics in food contact materials marks the country’s move toward more sustainable packaging practices. By pairing this permission with strict quality control and traceability frameworks, authorities aim to balance environmental goals with consumer safety. As the industry adapts to meet the compliance deadline of November 30, 2026, manufacturers will need to align their operations with both regulatory standards and growing expectations for responsible, safe and sustainable packaging solutions.
