G/SPS/N/TUR/122  
 
20 April 2022  
(22-3171) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  TURKEY  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry/General Directorate of Food and 
Control  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Semolina  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Semolina . 
Language(s):  Turkish . Number of pages:  3 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/TUR/22_2894_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Communiqué covers product definitions, compositions 
criteria and labelling requirements of Semolina.  
The current communiqué, Turkish Food Codex - Communiqué on Semolina (2002/21), is 
still in force in Turkey. In accordance with the national legislation, this draft communiqué 
will enter into forc e on the date of publication and replace the current communiqué. 
The current Turkish Food Codex Semolina Communiqué and the new draft require that 
only durum wheat ( Triticum durum ) must be used in semolina production. 
Triticum  aestivum  should not be used i n semolina production. However, it is quite likely 
that Triticum  aestivum  might be found in durum wheat either from fields or harvesting 
machines.  
Considering the scientific studies on the subject, the limit of Triticum aestivum  that might 
be found in semo lina was determined as 3% in the Communiqué draft.  
A transitional period is foreseen for the compliance with the new provisions.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pes t or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : Standard For Durum Wheat Semolina and 
Durum  Wheat Flour CXS 178 -1991 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  G/SPS/N/TUR/122  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international stand ard: The current communiqué, Turkish Food Codex - Communiqué on 
Semolina (2002/21), is still in force in Turkey. The only significant change between the 
new draft and the old is the limit for Triticum aestivum . There are differences draft 
Communiqué and Cod ex standard in terms of protein, ash, sieve analysis criteria and 
semolina classification. These differences are due to national needs and have been 
implemented since 2002.  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
The Law on Veterinary Services, Phytosanitary, Food and Feed, Law No. 5996 
(G/SPS/N/TUR/9)  (available in Turkish)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 December 2022  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 1 January 2023  
11. Proposed date of entry int o force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : This communiqué will enter into force on the date of publication. However, 
food business operators operating before the publication date of this Communiqué must 
comply with the provisions  of this Communiqué until 31 December 2022.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 1 July 2022  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  
General Directorate of Food and Control  
Eskisehir Yolu 9. Km. Lodumlu Anka ra - Turkey  
Tel: +(90) 312 258 77 56  
Fax: +(90) 312 258 77 60  
E-mail: kodeks@tarimorman.gov.tr  
Website:  https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/GKGM/Duyuru/460/Mevzuat -Taslagi -Tgk-
Makarna -Ve-Irmik -Tebligleri  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  
General Directorate of Food and Control  
Eskisehir Yolu 9. Km. Lodumlu Ankara - Turkey  
Tel: +(90) 312 258 77 56  
Fax: +(90) 312 258 77 60  
E-mail: kodeks@tarimorman.gov.tr  
Website:  https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/GKGM/Duyuru/460/Mevzuat -Taslagi -Tgk-
Makarna -Ve-Irmik -Tebligleri