Turkiye: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

Turkey’s Biosafety Law, which went into effect in 2010, continues to threaten imports and imposes a heavy financial burden on the country’s agri-food sector. As of September 2023, there were only 36 events (corn and soy) that were approved for feed purposes. There are no events approved for food use due to public concerns about the technology. The most recent approval occurred last December when the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry (MinAF) reauthorized a stacked corn event (NK603 X MON 810) and cancelled the single MON 810 event. To date, eight enzymes produced from GE Aspergillus oryzae have also been approved for feed and industrial use. In addition, one microbial mass (strengthened and inactivated GE Aspergillus oryzae) for feed purposes has been approved.