Turkey: Agricultural Biotechnology Update
Turkey published Biosafety Law and it’s implementing Regulations in 2010. This legislation continued to cause harm to Turkey’s agriculture and food sectors due to inharmonious procedures and approvals with the world in 2015. The Turkish Poultry Meat Producers and Breeders Association submitted dossiers to the Biosafety Board to request the approval for 37 genetically engineered (GE) traits for feed use in May 2015. Turkey’s Biosafety Board approved nine corn and four soybean events and their products (for feed use only) in July and November 2015. Evaluations of the rest of the 24 events are still pending. As of May 1, 2015, there are 25 corn, and seven soy events approved (for feed use only) in Turkey. Testing of imported products remains inconsistent and continues to be a considerable cost for importers. This is a mid-2016 update report.
