Turkey Publishes Law Modelled on REACH

Turkey's Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning has published its long delayed REACH-like law (KKDIK).

The Regulation was published in the country's Official Gazette on 23 June and will come into effect on 23 December this year.

It will bring various Turkish chemicals legislation under one law by replacing three existing regulations: the Inventory and Control of Chemicals; the Preparation and Distribution of Safety Datasheets for Hazardous Materials and Products; and the Restrictions Relating to the Production, Supply to the Market and Use of Certain Hazardous Materials, Products and Goods.

The law sets a registration deadline of 31 December 2023 and a pre-registration deadline of 31 December 2020 in order to give businesses ample time to prepare.

The legislation has been delayed by more than 18 months amid ministerial reshuffles and a failed coup last year.

Yahya Kesimal, head of the chemicals department at the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation (MoEU), has previously said that Turkey has been effectively implementing "60-70%" of EU REACH until now.

Enforcing KKDIK will mean chemicals are fully regulated "with no unregistered substances on the market", he told Chemical Watch.

The law is also the last step in Turkey's aim to align chemicals regulations with the EU as part of accession negotiations.

Industry concerns
Turkish companies have expressed concern about data obligations under KKDIK, and the prospect of having to pay substantial sums to European consortia.

Translation could be another impediment – the law requires submissions in Turkish, but there is a shortage of locally trained chemical experts who are able to manage complex data sheets.

Speaking last month, Mr Kesimal said up to 80% of Turkish companies are already registering substances under EU REACH and are "well equipped" to deal with data translation.