Dear Members,
The “Draft Regulation on Single-Use Plastics,” prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, has been opened for the opinion of the public and relevant stakeholders. The draft aims to reduce the negative environmental impacts of single-use plastic products, strengthen the zero-waste approach, and prevent the generation of plastic waste at its source in line with the principles of the circular economy.
Within the scope of the draft regulation, various restrictions and provisions are introduced regarding oxo-degradable plastic products as well as certain single-use plastic items. Accordingly, it is planned to prohibit the placing on the market of plastic forks, knives, spoons, and plates; beverage cups made entirely of plastic; beverage stirrers; and food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene (EPS), beginning from 1 September 2026. The draft also includes measures aimed at reducing consumption in certain product groups and practices encouraging consumers to shift toward reusable alternatives.
Within the scope of the regulation, marking requirements are also introduced for single-use plastic products. Accordingly, certain products will be required to bear labels informing consumers that they contain plastic and outlining their environmental impacts. In addition, producers are expected to contribute to awareness-raising activities aimed at encouraging consumers to adopt sustainable consumption habits.
This draft Regulation has been prepared with reference to Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, and is considered part of Türkiye’s alignment process with EU legislation.
We kindly request that you prepare your comments on the draft using the attached Feedback Form and submit them via email no later than the close of business on Thursday, 26 March to Yasemin Kayhan (yasemin.kayhan@tksd.org.tr) and the Turkish Chemical Manufacturers Association (tksd@tksd.org.tr).
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