Communiqué on Determining the Marks or Symbols Belonging To Lot Numbers of Foodstuffs

Authorization Law: Turkish Food Codex

The Official Gazette: 06.02.2002-24663

Communication No : 2002/6

Objective

Article 1- The objective of this Communiqué is to ensure the determination of the lot numbers to which a foodstuff belongs.

Scope

Article 2- This Communiqué covers the determination of lot numbers of all foodstuffs.

Legal basis

Article 3- This Communiqué has been prepared in accordance with the “Turkish Food Codex Regulation” published in Official Gazette dated 16/11/1997, reiterated No. 23172.

Definitions

Article 4- The terms used in this Communiqué:

Lot means the product samples or batch of packages, which are produced under the same conditions and at the same time which has the same package, package size, class, type, sort and length.

General Provisions

Article 5- The provisions related with the lot numbers of foodstuffs are indicated as follows:

a) The foodstuff without lot numbers shall not be marketed.

b) Lot numbers ;

1- On agricultural products which are sold or delivered to the temporary storehouses or storages, preparation or packaging establishments, transported to producers’ unions, left to the processing systems for preparation or production establishments,

2- On foodstuff where, at the point of sale to the ultimate consumer, the food stuffs are not prepackaged and packed at the request of purchaser or are prepackaged for immediate sale,

3- In the foodstuffs, in packages or boxes, largest side of which have surface area less than 10 cm2 at the longest side.

4- Although existence of lot numbers is necessary in combined packages, in single portion of ice creams, is not obligatory..

c) Lot numbers are determined in each case by foodstuff producers, manufacturers and packing companies.

d) Lot number is determined and marked under the responsibility of one or other of these operators Lot number shall be preceded by the letter “L” except in cases where it is clearly distinguishable from the other indications on the label.

e) In cases where the foodstuff is prepackaged, letter “L” shall appear on the package or on the box or on relevant trade documents.

f) Lot number shall in all cases appear in such a way as to be easily visible clearly legible and indeliable.

g) When the date of minimum durability or “use by” date appears on the label, lot number chain not appear on the foodstuff, provided that the date consists at least of the uncoded indication of the day and the mount in that order.

Compliance with European Union

Article 6- This Communiqué has been prepared within the framework of compliance with European Union having regard to the Commission Directive No.89/396/EEC on “On Indications or Marks Identifying the Lot to which a Foodstuff Belongs”.

Registration and Inspection

Article 7- The establishments producing and selling the materials and articles covered in this Communiqué are obliged to obey the provisions of this Communiqué during registration, authorization, importation, control and inspection. The establishments that do not obey these provisions are subject to legal procedure according to the Decree Law No: 560 dated 24/6/1995, on “Production, Consumption and Inspection Foodstuffs”.

Inspection

Article 8- Implementation of the provisions of this Communiqué are inspected by Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, according to the provisions of Decree Law No: 560.

Provisional Article-1 Presently active establishments, producing and selling the materials and articles covered in this Communiqué, are obliged to obey the provisions of this Communiqué within 1 year following the publication thereof. The establishments that do not make the necessary modifications during this period are not allowed to operate. At the end of above-mentioned periods, legal procedure is applied, according to the provisions of the Decree Law No. 560, to these establishments which produce and sell these materials and articles.

Enforcement

Article 9- This Communiqué enters into force on the date of publication.

Execution

Article 10- The provisions of this Communiqué are executed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Minister of Health.