You can access consumer information on organic products on the official website of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry:
https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/Konular/Bitkisel-Uretim/Organik-Tarim/Genel-Bilgiler
This useful link briefly introduces the purpose and advantages of organic farming. The information presented there is summarized below, along with our important notes. The mentioned information is also accessible through the legislation available at https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/, particularly the Organic Agriculture Law No. 5262, adopted on 1/12/2004 and published in the Official Gazette No. 25659 on 03.12.2004, and the Regulation on the Principles and Implementation of Organic Agriculture, published in the Official Gazette No. 27676 on 18.08.2010.
What kind of production is organic farming?
Organic farming conducted under the Turkish Organic Farming Regulation is carried out within the framework of the Organic Agriculture Law No. 5262 and the Regulation on the Principles and Implementation of Organic Agriculture, issued under this law. It is a traceable production system where only permitted inputs are used, and every stage from production to consumption is controlled and certified.
Purpose and advantage of organic farming
By consuming organic products, we protect our health while also supporting an agricultural production method that protects the environment and living beings without polluting the soil, water, and air. Organic farming offers GMO-free and hormone-free products. Thus, we contribute to leaving a clean world for future generations.
Organic agriculture is monitored and certified by Control and Certification Bodies authorized by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry during all processes such as harvesting, slaughtering, processing, sorting, packaging, labeling, preservation, storage, and transportation until the product reaches the consumer.
How many types of certificates exist in organic farming? What is an organic product certificate?
There are two types of certificates in organic farming. The first is the ‘Operator Certificate’, and the second is the ‘Product Certificate’. Examples of these certificates can be found in Annex-11 of the Regulation on the Principles and Implementation of Organic Agriculture.
Note: According to Article 32(b) Marketing of Organic Products, ‘bulk product certificates’ are issued for unprocessed products. According to Article 32(c), ‘product certificates’ are issued for processed products.
The Organic Farming Operator Certificate is issued by the authorized body after signing a contract with the operator and conducting the first inspection, provided that the results are deemed appropriate. This certificate does not certify the product itself as organic, but rather indicates that the operator is engaged in organic farming.
Note: Authorized control and certification bodies publish lists of operators with whom they conduct certification processes on their websites. Unlike the Ministry’s list of active commercial operators, these lists also include certificate validity dates, the applicable regulation (e.g., Turkish Organic Farming Regulation, EU, or US Organic Regulations), current certification status (active, suspended, or revoked), and reasons for suspension if applicable.
The product certificate is the document issued as a result of the implementation of all control methods, verifying that the organic product complies with the legislation. This certificate includes the name and address of the certifying body, the code number issued by the Ministry, certificate number, product name and status, quantity, production or harvest year, source of the product, and the name and address of the buyer operator if the product is to be exported or sold wholesale.
Imported Products (as a note)
According to Article 32(g) and (ğ) of the Regulation on the Principles and Implementation of Organic Agriculture, imported products must also be re-certified by an authorized control and certification body. For this re-certification, the control and certification body requests the necessary documents and information from the importing operator (Article 32-ğ/1–5) and conducts its evaluations accordingly.
According to Article 29-b/5 of the Regulation on Labeling of Organic and Transitional Products, products not produced under this Regulation cannot bear any indication on the label suggesting they were produced, processed, packaged, or stored in accordance with the Regulation. Non-organic products cannot have packaging or labels that resemble organic product packaging and labeling. Such products cannot be branded, patented, or registered as organic agricultural products. Terms like bio, biyo, eco, eko, org cannot be used as prefixes, suffixes, or standalone in a way that may mislead consumers. These rules also apply to imported products.
According to Article 29-b/6, the label of imported organic products must state that “the product has been controlled and re-certified for compliance with this Regulation”.
Where can we find organic products?
Organic products are available in organic farmers’ markets, regular markets, supermarkets, stores, specialized shops, bakeries, pharmacies, online platforms, and directly from farmers’ gardens. They may also be served directly in breakfast halls and restaurants.
Note: In the case of processed and packaged products found in stores, label information must be carefully checked. For unpackaged, unprocessed bulk products, a ‘bulk product certificate’ should be requested and reviewed in accordance with Article 32-b.
What should we pay attention to when buying organic products?
An organic product is a food item produced under the Organic Agriculture Law No. 5262 and the Regulation on the Principles and Implementation of Organic Agriculture, inspected and certified by authorized control and certification bodies, and labeled with the organic product logo and certification information.
Certified organic products must display the name and logo of the control and certification body, code number, operator or product certificate number, and the organic product logo as specified in Annex 10 of the Regulation.
Acceptable logo colors include green, blue, black, and white.
Figure 1. Organic farming logo
ORGANIC = ECOLOGICAL = BIOLOGICAL are synonymous
Products labeled as “100% Natural,” “Hormone-Free,” “Genuine,” “Village Product,” or “Pure” are not considered Organic Products. These terms offer no guarantee to the consumer. Labels and logos for organic products must not be fake, misleading, or include deceptive text, images, symbols, etc. Therefore, when buying organic products, always check the label and logo.
Note: If the product label or certificate states that it is a ‘transitional product’:
According to Article 8-b of the Regulation on Organic Plant Production Rules; for annual crops (e.g., tomatoes), a minimum of two years must pass from the sowing date, for pastures and fodder crops two years before usage, and for perennial crops (e.g., apples), a three-year conversion period must be completed before the first organic harvest. According to Article 7-1/a, products obtained 12 months after the beginning of organic farming in plant production can be marketed as “transitional products”. These must be labeled as “Product of the Organic Farming Transition Period.” However, products derived from animals in the conversion period cannot be marketed as transitional products, and labels must not contain claims referring to organic farming.
Who is authorized to issue organic farming certificates?
Individuals or legal entities authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to conduct control and certification in organic farming are called authorized bodies. These authorized bodies may function as control and certification bodies, control bodies, or certification bodies. Only certification bodies or control and certification bodies are authorized to issue certificates. These bodies audit the operators and issue certificates if deemed appropriate.
Can products collected from the wild be certified organic? What are the conditions?
An operator planning to collect products from forests or natural areas must first sign a contract with an authorized body and obtain written permission from the legal owner or authority of the area.
For wild harvesting in forests, natural areas, or agricultural lands, the following conditions must be met:
The collection area must not have been treated with fertilizers or pesticides not permitted under the Regulation for at least three years prior.
The area must not have been affected by fire within the last two years.
Natural ecological balance and species must be preserved in the collection area.
Transitional periods do not apply to wild-collected products.
How can I reach control and certification bodies?
You can find the contact details of authorized bodies for control and certification in organic farming on the official website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: www.tarimorman.gov.tr.
What are the organic farming training activities?
To promote organic farming, in-service training is provided to personnel working within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Trained personnel are assigned to the organic farming unit, where they educate farmers, consumers, and schools within their province. To raise awareness, printed materials such as posters, brochures, and books are also prepared.
Our Ministry and the Turkish Standards Institution jointly organize training for Organic Farming Inspectors to be employed by control and certification bodies.
Why are organic products more expensive than others?
Since organic farming is a comprehensive system conducted under the Law and Regulation, it is subject to control and certification requirements. The cost of services from authorized bodies adds to production expenses. Additionally, the cost of inputs (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides) used in organic production may be higher than those used in conventional farming. However, the environmental benefits of organic production methods and the health benefits of consuming organic products should also be considered. We can save money on many unhealthy ultra-processed foods and unnecessary clothing purchases by purchasing more beneficial organic products. When considered this way, there are numerous scientific studies that demonstrate that organic products are not actually expensive.
What should I do if I have a complaint about an organic product?
If you have a complaint about an organic product you purchased, report it to the nearest Provincial or District Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry or call the Food Hotline at 174, providing the label and certificate number of the product.
Additional Notes:
Analyses:
Analyses may be conducted to detect the use of unauthorized products, non-compliance with organic production methods, or potential contamination. Such analysis reports may be offered to you at the time of purchase or published on the seller’s website.
Product samples should be analyzed by laboratories accredited according to TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 standards. The laboratory must be accredited specifically for the substance and product tested. For example, if a honey product is tested in a lab not accredited for honey analysis, the result is not reliable. Accreditation documents can be accessed via the laboratory’s website or that of the accrediting body.
If analysis reports include electronic signatures, these can be scanned to verify the authenticity of the report.