TURKEY

TURKEY - SUMMARY OF POLCIES AND LEGISLATION FOR FOOD WASTE PREVENTION AND REDUCTION

Several laws and régulations mainly indirectly related  to the reduction of food waste are currently ongoing in Turkey. They mainly refer to rules on good practices related to agriculture and manufacturing to prevent loss through the primary production of animal and plant based foods.

Turkey has not implemented a specific strategy for food waste reduction, prevention and management.

Figure 1. Turkey’s policy mix at December 2014

 
The Turkey Waste Prevention Foundation (TISVA) was established in 2010 as a non-governmental initiative to ensure efficient and effective use of resources and prevention of waste including foods in the community. One significant outcome of this foundation was the establishment of the Food Banking Association as a system and non-governmental organisation that delivers surplus food to those in need. The Headquarters of the association are located in Istanbul. The association currently has  active partnership with food banks, associations, retailers, and the food industry. 

Turkey presents laws concerning food donations, namely: the Income Tax Law (Serial no. 251) that grants donors from retailers or the food industry the right to deduct their food donations to food banks from their taxable income as well as the Value Added Tax Law (Law no. 3065). This later tax states that food donated to foundations and associations, which operate for food banking purposes by taxable persons to tax-exempt foundations and public benefit associations, are exempt from VAT.

As for primary production, the Regulation on Good Agricultural Practices (Official Gazette Issue no 27778) regulates the good agricultural production and manufacturing practices, sustainability, traceability and safety of food products.

The Bread Waste Prevention is a campaign which originated by the voluntary cooperation of all state foundations and establishments, local administrators, food banks association, universities, non-governmental organizations and private sector in order to be able to reach all of the society.

Although Turkey has a short history in addressing food waste, efforts have been directed to reduce it, especially at the primary production and consumers’ level.

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REFERENCES

A) NATIONAL STRATEGY ON FOOD WASTE PREVENTION
None

B) MARKET-BASED INSTRUMENTS

Income Tax Law (Serial no. 251 -2004)
No weblink available

Value Added Tax Law (Law no. 3065 -1994)
Available here

C) REGULATIONS AND REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS
Agricultural Law (Law no 5488 - 2006)
Available from:
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/turkey/screening_reports/screening_report_11_tr_internet_en.pdf

Law of Licenced Warehouse for Agricultural Products (Law no 5300 - 2005)
Available from:
http://faolex.fao.org/cgi-bin/faolex.exe?rec_id=114798&database=faolex&search_type=link&table=result&lang=eng&format_name=@ERALL

The Law of Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food and Feed (Law no 5996- 2010)
Available from:
http://faolex.fao.org/cgi-bin/faolex.exe?rec_id=106155&database=faolex&search_type=link&table=result&lang=eng&format_name=@ERALL

The Regulation on Good Agricultural Practices (Official Gazette Issue no 27778 - 2010)
Available from:
http://faolex.fao.org/cgi-bin/faolex.exe?rec_id=117069&database=faolex&search_type=link&table=result&lang=eng&format_name=@ERALL

The Regulation on Special Rules for Animal Foods Hygiene (Official Gazette Issue no 28155 – 2011)
Available from:
http://www.tarim.gov.tr/Belgeler/ENG/Legislation/regulation_animalfood_hygiene.pdf

The Circular on Criteria for Good Agricultural Practices in Crop Production (Circular no 7 - 2011)
Available from:
http://faolex.fao.org/cgi-bin/faolex.exe?rec_id=106155&database=faolex&search_type=link&table=result&lang=eng&format_name=@ERALL

The Circular on Bread Waste Prevention Campaign (Circular no 2013/3)
Available from:
http://legislation.tariff-tr.com/IngilizceMevzuat.aspx?tip=3

D) VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS
None

E) RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL REPORTS
Turkish Court of Accounts (2007), Performance Audit Report on the Waste Management in Turkey – National Regulations and Evaluation of Implementation Results.
Available from:
http://www.sayistay.gov.tr/english_tca/Performance/TCA_Waste_Management_Report.pdf

FAO (2013), Food Loss and Waste in Turkey, Country Report.
Available from:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Europe/documents/Publications/FLW/Turkey_en.pdf

Gul A., Isik H., Bal T. & Ozer S. (2003), Bread consumption and waste of households in urban area of Adana Province, Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities 01; 6(2).
Available here

F) COMMUNICATION AND CAMPAIGNS
Bread Waste Prevention Campaign
Available from: http://www.ekmekisrafetme.com/Pages/EnglishPages/Reason.aspx

Nutrition and Food Waste Prevention Week
No weblink available

G) PROJECTS AND OTHER MEASURES
Turkey Waste Prevention Foundation
No weblink available

Food Banking Association
No weblink available

All links have been accessed for the last time on October 28, 2015.