Turkey Restricts BPA in Food Contact Materials
foodmachtech | 2026-05-11 | 1480
On April 8, 2026, Türkiye’s General Directorate of Food and Control notified G/SPS/N/TUR/156, announcing new restrictions on the use of BPA and other hazardous bisphenols and bisphenol derivatives in food-contact materials under the Turkish Food Codex.
This further tightens the requirements for BPA and related substances, expanding the prohibition scope and imposing stricter rules on migration validation, residual testing, and specific authorizations.
Quick Impact Summary
Turkey is strengthening the control of bisphenols in FCM, shifting from migration limits to a stricter "Prohibited Use + Not Detected" model.
For food machinery and processing plants, compliance risks for plastic parts, epoxy coatings, rubber components, and packaging contact materials are rising. Companies involved in packaging machinery, kitchen equipment, beverage processing equipment, and water treatment equipment must focus on material sourcing and bisphenol residues.
Policy Background
On April 8, 2026, the Turkish authorities released the communiqué regarding the restriction of BPA and other hazardous bisphenols (carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic, or endocrine-disrupting).
The regulation covers seven categories: Adhesives, Rubber, Ion-exchange resins, Plastics, Printing inks, Silicone, and Varnishes/Coatings.
What It Means
This revision increases regulatory oversight. For equipment firms using food-grade plastics, epoxy coatings, and rubber seals, material auditing is now a priority.
BPA is prohibited in the seven categories, except for limited use in large self-supporting tanks (liquid epoxy) and polysulfone filter membranes, provided migration is not detected.
This means traditional epoxy and plastic solutions may need re-validation. The Turkish market's focus on migration tests and third-party declarations will increase. Packaging machinery, beverage processing equipment, and general food machinery components may face tighter audits.
The regulation shifts from single-substance limits to a broader bisphenol system, emphasizing traceability and low migration risk.
Key Compliance Changes
| Module | Core Change | Impact on Equipment/Lines |
|---|---|---|
| BPA Ban Scope | BPA prohibited in 7 categories of FCM | Food-grade packaging machinery plastic parts/coatings need re-evaluation |
| Specific Exemptions | Limited use for large tanks & polysulfone membranes | Tanks and filtration systems require extra validation |
| Other Bisphenol Limits | Hazardous bisphenol derivatives restricted | Audit pressure and costs for food-grade packaging machinery rise |
| Residual Requirements | No BPA residues detected in FCM | Higher migration testing requirements for packaging equipment |
| Testing Methods | Default limit of 1μg/kg | Increased QC requirements for equipment exporters |
Action Checklist
Prioritize auditing food-contact plastics, coatings, and seals for BPA or restricted bisphenols.
Beverage processing equipment, dairy equipment, and water treatment firms should check hoses, linings, and filter components.
Prepare migration tests and third-party declarations to meet Turkish market audit demands.
For export projects to Turkey, evaluate BPA-free materials and alternative resin solutions to mitigate compliance risks.
This article is based on publicly available regulatory information and does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Final requirements remain subject to official Turkish regulations.
