Official Gazette / September 15-21, 2025

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has amended the regulations concerning construction site supervisors and building contractors. With the new regulations, the transfer of high-group contracting certificates through company transfers—that is, changing hands via company sales—has been prohibited. To utilize the certificate, the relevant party must have held more than half of the company's shares for at least one year and must have been authorized in representation and management for the same period. Construction site supervisors will be required to keep all records, documents, and daily notes in a digital environment. The regulation also narrowed and clarified the criteria for the areas where teachers and technicians can serve as construction site supervisors.

The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) has lowered discount and advance interest rates. Accordingly, the discount interest rate to be applied to rediscount transactions has been set at 41.25% per annum, and the interest rate for advance transactions at 42.25% per annum. Additionally, the interest rate applied to cash withdrawals made via credit cards has been reduced, effective from October 1, 2025, per the published communiqué. Furthermore, the Communiqué on Procedures and Principles Regarding Fees That Can Be Charged to Commercial Customers by Banks has been amended, changing credit allocation and utilization fees effective from November 1, 2025. The maximum transfer period to member merchants for non-installment transactions made with credit cards has been set at 40 days, and at 15 days for debit card transactions.

The General Directorate of Forestry has amended the Regulation on Volunteers Serving in the Fight Against Forest Fires, adding the concepts of "forest fire fighting volunteer" and "other volunteer" to the legislation. Within this scope, volunteers from organizations such as AFAD and the Turkish Red Crescent, as well as other volunteers formed by civilian citizens and their relatives, will be able to benefit from the rights under the Law on Monetary Compensation and Pension Allocation as of January 1, 2025. With the new amendment, volunteers and citizens who lost their lives while fighting forest fires this year will also be eligible for the title of martyr.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has published the Regulation on the Implementation of Port State Control, repealing the Port State Control Regulation that had been in effect since 2006. Requirements have been introduced for port state control officers, including graduation from a faculty/college providing maritime-related education, English language proficiency, holding at least a chief officer license for unlimited voyages, and completing at least one year of service as a sea and flag state surveyor. It is prohibited for these officers to have commercial relations with the inspection port and the inspected ships, or to be employed by companies working for ship agencies and to conduct business on their behalf.