Official Gazette – March 31 – April 13, 2025

I am sharing a summary of the developments published in the Official Gazette between March 31 and April 13, 2025.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has published the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Butter and Anhydrous Milk Fat (Communiqué No: 2025/9). According to the communiqué, "starter culture" may be used in the production of these products to ensure a typical taste and aroma. Butter may contain a maximum of 2% salt. Flavoring agents that could cause imitation or adulteration may not be used in flavored butter. Flavorings may not be added to anhydrous milk fat or butter that does not contain flavoring agents. Milk and dairy product flavorings may not be added to butter varieties, and animal imagery may not be used on labels.

The Ministry of Trade has published the Communiqué on Amending the Communiqué on Conformity Assessment of Certain Consumer Products. Henceforth, in consumer products under the Ministry's responsibility, particularly textiles and footwear, if components of animal origin are present, information regarding which animal they were obtained from must be disclosed to consumers.

The "Regulation on Birth Assistance" published by the Ministry of Family and Social Services on May 23, 2015, has been repealed, and a new "Regulation on Birth Assistance" has been published. Accordingly, for children born alive after January 1, 2025, provided that the mother or father is a Turkish citizen and the family resides in Turkey, birth assistance will be paid if an application is made within 12 months from the date of birth for the first child, and before the child turns 5 for subsequent children. The amount of birth assistance will be determined based on the number of children the mother has previously given birth to alive. Children born before 2025 will also be counted in determining this number. A one-time payment of 5 thousand liras will be made for the first child; for the second child, a monthly payment of 1500 liras will be made until the child completes the age of 5 (including the sixtieth month) as of the month the application is made; and for the third and subsequent children, a monthly payment of 5 thousand liras will be made until the child completes the age of 5 (including the sixtieth month) as of the month the application is made. For those who were entitled to receive birth assistance for a child born alive before January 1, 2025, the provisions of the repealed regulation will apply, provided they apply by June 1, 2025.

The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) has published the Communiqué on the Calculation of Banks' Green Asset Ratio. The green asset ratio will be calculated by dividing the compliant assets in the banks' non-consolidated balance sheets by the total assets within the scope of the green asset ratio, in order to measure the banks' contribution to environmental sustainability. Assets that make a significant contribution to environmental objectives, meet minimum social security standards, and do not harm the environment will be considered "compliant assets." Working capital loans and other similar loans granted to businesses that have generated at least ninety percent of their last fiscal year's turnover from compliant assets and have not generated any income from non-renewable energy sources in the last year, and whose place of use cannot be determined, will be considered compliant assets in the calculation of the green asset ratio.

The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) has published the Regulation on the Procedures and Principles Regarding Funds to be Provided by Development and Investment Banks from Credit Customers, Partnerships, and Partners. According to the regulation, funds that development and investment banks will use from money markets, capital markets, organized markets, and banks will be excluded from the scope of this regulation. The total amount of funds obtained under a fund agreement and provided by a credit customer may not exceed the total credit risk amount arising from "customers using non-cash loans through cash loans or letters of guarantee, counter-guarantees, sureties, aval, endorsement, acceptance, and other commitments of this nature, as well as transactions arising from financial leasing methods, sales methods, leasing methods, partnership methods, and agency methods." Henceforth, partners, as well as affiliates, subsidiaries, and jointly controlled entities, may provide funds provided that a fund agreement is signed. The total amount of funds provided by a direct or indirect partner may not exceed the equity amount corresponding to the relevant partner's share in the capital of the development and investment bank. However, this limit will not apply to funds provided by qualified shareholders and direct or indirect partners included in their risk group, as well as direct or indirect shareholders with legal personality under public law. Funds may no longer be provided by shareholders acquired through the stock exchange who do not fall under the scope of qualified shareholding. Development and investment banks will bring their operations into compliance with the provisions of this regulation by April 1, 2026.