G/SPS/N/TUR/143  
15 March 2024  
(24-2337) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  TÜRKIYE  
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):  Lentils  
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 Lentil . 
Language(s):  Turkish . Number of pages:  4 
https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/GKGM/Duyuru/558/Mevzuat -Taslagi -Tgk-Mercimek -Tebligi  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/SPS/TUR/24_02057_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Communiqué covers produ ct definitions and features, 
quality criteria and labelling requirements of lentils.  
Currently, Turkish Food Codex - Communiqué on Lentil (2003/25) is in force in Türkiye. 
This draft communiqué will enter into force on the date of publication and replace t he 
current communiqué. The content of the Communiqué has been drafted without making 
any changes in the main issues, only the references to the legislation and the names of the 
Ministries have been adjusted according to the current situation.  
A transitiona l 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 pest 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) : Standart for Certain Pulses CXS 171 -1989 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No  G/SPS/N/TUR/143  
 
- 2 - 
 
  If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  The Codex standard covers pulses for direct human 
consumption. The draft communiqué covers lentil varieties for direct hu man consumption 
and lentils for industrial processing and classification.  
In the draft Communiqué, a lower moisture content (12% -14%) has been set according to 
the Codex standard, taking into account the climatic conditions of our country.  
The Codex standa rd does not allow the presence of live insects and the tolerance value for 
dead insects and impurities of animal origin is maximum 0 .1%, for total impurities 
maximum 1% and for inorganic impurities maximum 0 .25%. Taking into account 
consumer habits and cus tomary commercial practices, the presence of live insects and 
impurities of animal origin is not permitted in the draft Communiqué. In addition, while 
higher tolerance values have been determined for the total amount of foreign matter and 
inorganic foreign  matter in lentils subjected to industrial processing and classification 
compared to the Codex standard, tolerance values for lentils to be offered directly for 
human consumption are lower than the Codex standard.  
According to the draft communiqué, product s can be treated with vegetable oils to make 
them look brighter in line with consumer demands.  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Veterinary, Phytosanitary, Food and Feed Law No: 5996 (G/SPS/N/TUR/9)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 30 September 2024  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 30 September 2024  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 30 September 2024 . This Communiqué enters  into force on the date of its 
publication. Food operators operating before the publication date of this Communiqué must 
comply with the provisions of this Communiqué until 31  December 2025. 
After 31 December  2025, products not complying with this Communiq ué cannot be placed 
on the market.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 5 June 2024  
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  Ankara - Türkiye  
Tel: +(90) 312 258 77 53  
Fax: +(90) 312 258 77 60  
E-mail: sps@tarimorman.gov.tr  
Website: https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/GKGM  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National E nquiry 
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 - Türkiye  
Tel: +(90) 312 258 77 53  
Fax: +(90) 312 258 77 60 
E-mail: sps@tarimorman.gov.tr  
Website: https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/GKGM