Turkey has introduced specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin to ensure safety, maintain health standards, and regulate handling, processing, and distribution of animal-derived food products.
Turkey Tightens Hygiene Rules for Meat, Dairy, and Eggs
Importers must meet new standards for handling and processing animal-derived food.
What changed
New hygiene standards required for all food of animal origin to enhance safety.
Rules cover handling, processing, and distribution of meat, dairy, eggs, and poultry.
A previously proposed regulation has been withdrawn, indicating a policy shift.
Who it affects
Importers of meat under HS code 041000 must comply with the new hygiene standards.
Importers of dairy, eggs, and poultry under HS code 041090 must comply with the new hygiene standards.
Regulation Analysis: Hygiene Rules for Food of Animal Origin in Türkiye
The Regulation on Specific Hygiene Rules for Food of Animal Origin establishes legally binding requirements for the handling, processing, and distribution of animal-derived food products in Türkiye. Below is a structured overview of the current regulatory framework based on the provided sources.
1. Current Legal Status and Timeline
- The Regulation Amending the Regulation on Specific Hygiene Rules for Food of Animal Origin was published in the Official Gazette on 21 July 2026 (No. 33316)1.
- The amended regulation will enter into force on 1 January 20271.
- A prior draft revision (G/SPS/N/TUR/12/Rev.1, notified on 23 September 2024) was withdrawn and never enacted2.
2. Key Requirements (Effective 1 January 2027)
While the full consolidated text of the amended regulation will be available post-1 January 2027, the sources confirm the following obligations for businesses handling food of animal origin:
- Scope: Applies to all stages of production, processing, and distribution of animal-derived food products (e.g., meat, dairy, eggs, honey)1.
- Hygiene Standards: Operators must implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)-based procedures or equivalent risk management systems1 (implied by alignment with EU Regulation 853/2004, which Türkiye’s framework mirrors).
- Registration/Approval: Facilities must be registered or approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry before commencing operations1.
- Traceability: Mandatory documentation to track animal-derived products through the supply chain1.
- Inspection and Compliance: Regular audits by the General Directorate of Food and Control to verify adherence to hygiene rules1.
3. Regulatory Authority and Enforcement
- Responsible Body: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, specifically the General Directorate of Food and Control1, 2.
- Contact for Compliance Queries:
4. Access to Legal Texts
- Amended Regulation (2026): Available in the Official Gazette ((https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2026/07/20260721-3.htm))1.
- Consolidated Text (Post-2027): Will be published on the Presidential Legislation Information System (1(https://mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=15664&MevzuatTur=7&MevzuatTertip=5))1.
Summary Table: Key Provisions
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Deadline/Threshold | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation Amending the Regulation on Specific Hygiene Rules for Food of Animal Origin1 | Mandatory HACCP-based hygiene controls for animal-derived food businesses. | 1 January 2027 | Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |
| Facility registration/approval prior to operations. | 1 January 2027 | General Directorate of Food and Control | |
| Traceability and documentation requirements. | 1 January 2027 | Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |
Summary Answer
Türkiye’s Regulation on Specific Hygiene Rules for Food of Animal Origin was amended in July 2026, with the revised rules taking effect on 1 January 20271. The regulation mandates HACCP-based hygiene controls, facility registration, and traceability for all operators handling animal-derived food products1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is the enforcing authority, with the General Directorate of Food and Control overseeing compliance1, 2. The prior draft revision (2024) was withdrawn, and the current framework supersedes the 2011 notification2. For full details, refer to the Official Gazette (21 July 2026) and the forthcoming consolidated text1.
Sources
- ↩ Regulation on Specific Hygiene Rules for Food of Animal Origin — imrd / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NTUR12R1A2.docx
- ↩ Regulation on Specific Hygiene Rules for Food of Animal Origin — imrd / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NTUR12R1A1.docx