COMMENTS: Law No. 4733 establishes the Tobacco and Alcohol Market Coordination Committee and outlines its duties and powers. In Turkish, the committee is called the "Tütün ve Alkol Piyasası Düzenleme Kurumu," and is often referred to by the acronym "TAPDK."
COMMENTS: Excerpts of Law No. 4822 on Commercial Advertisements and Ads relevant to tobacco control have been translated into English. The English excerpted provisions, Articles 5 and 7, require advertising to be honest, accurate and appropriate.
COMMENTS: The Regulation on Methods and Essentials concerning the Manufacture Type, Labeling and Surveillance for the Protection from the Damages of Tobacco Products, 2005 (No. 25692) (as amended) was abrogated by the 2019 Regulation on the Procedures and Principles Related to the Production Methods, Labeling and Surveillance of Tobacco Products.
Prior to repeal, it regulated many aspects of packaging and labeling and product information including, but not limited to: constituents and emissions yields, and health warning content, size, location, and format. As amended in Official Gazette No. 28475 on November 22, 2012.
COMMENTS: The Law Amending the Law on Prevention of Hazards of Tobacco Products (Law No. 5727) substantially amended Law No. 4207, the primary tobacco control law in Turkey. The amendment covered many tobacco control areas, including: prohibitions on public smoking; advertising, promotion and sponsorship; packaging and labeling; education campaigns; and penalties for violations.
COMMENTS: Law No. 5326 on Misdemeanors provides fines for individuals who smoke in places or areas where smoking is prohibited. The English translation of the law contains only the relevant language from Article 39, as amended on May 18, 2008.
COMMENTS: The Notification Regarding Procedures and Guidelines in Relation to the Enforcement of Decisions on Administrative Sanctions Imposed on Consumers of Tobacco Products in Public Places, Transportation, Buildings, and Facilities was issued by the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Finance, and Health. The Notification establishes the procedure that must be followed in effecting and reporting a violation of Law No. 4207, including aspects such as the form that must be filed, recording proof of consumption, and the collection of fines.
COMMENTS: This letter (#18330) was sent by the Ministry of Health to the local health authorities in each of Turkey’s 81 provinces summarizing the regulations that must be followed in enforcing the regulations of Law No. 4207.
COMMENTS: This letter (#17095) was sent by the Ministry of Health to the local health authorities in each of Turkey’s 81 provinces, drawing their attention to the recently issued Notification on procedures and guidelines to be followed in sanctioning violations of public smoking restrictions as established in Law No. 4207.
COMMENTS: The Tobacco & Alcohol Market Coordination Committee’s (TAPDK) Decision No. 4201 was issued pursuant to Law No. 4207 as amended by Law No. 5727. It regulates the size, shape, content, and format of no-smoking signs in smoke free places, the health warnings signs that must appear in areas designated for smoking, and the signs prohibiting sales to minors at point of sale.
COMMENTS: Tobacco and Alcohol Market Coordination Committee’s (TAPDK) Decision No. 4721 regulates the size, location, rotation, and format of health warnings on tobacco products.
COMMENTS: Circular 2009/13 from the Prime Minister’s Office on the Implementation of Law No. 4207 regulates how smoke-free provisions are implemented in bars, restaurants and placed in the other hospitality industry. The Circular also provides specifications for designated smoking areas, where such smoking areas are allowed by law. This Circular repeals the previous Circular 2008/6.
COMMENTS: This Ministry of Health Letter rescinds earlier Letter No. 27556, which had defined areas with ceilings or sides that could be opened or closed automatically or manually as “outdoor.” This Letter now clarifies that such areas shall be considered “enclosed” whether the ceiling or sides are open or closed.
COMMENTS: This Ministry of Health Guidance instructs municipal authorities on their enforcement and inspection obligations under national smoke free laws. The Guidance reminds authorities of the penal consequences for officials who fail to enforce the law.
COMMENTS: This Ministry of Health Guidance instructs provincial authorities on their enforcement and inspection obligations under national smoke free provisions. The Guidance reminds authorities of the penal consequences for officials who fail to enforce the law.
Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.
COMMENTS: Decision No. 6896 regulates certain ingredients in tobacco products.
Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.
Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.
Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.
COMMENTS: Law No. 6487 amends several laws, including amending two provisions of Law No. 4207, the Law on Prevention and Control of Hazards of Tobacco Products. An unofficial English translation is provided of the relevant provisions only.
COMMENTS: Circular 2015/1 announces the National Tobacco Control Program Plan of Action 2015-2018, as well as the formation of a National Tobacco Control Coordination Committee.
COMMENTS: This National Plan of Action is a policy document elaborating the government's tobacco control plan between 2015 and 2018. This is a non-binding declaration of policy.
Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.
Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.
Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.
COMMENTS: Law No. 7151 contains several amendments to Law No. 4207 on Prevention and Control of the Harms of Tobacco Products. These amendments include plain packaging, an increase in the size of health warnings on tobacco product packaging from 65% to 85%, and a ban on depiction of tobacco products or use in media. The larger health warnings entered into force in January 2020. An unofficial English translation is provided of the relevant provisions only.
COMMENTS: The Regulation on the Procedures and Principles Related to the Production Methods, Labeling and Surveillance of Tobacco Products was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to implement emissions and reporting requirements, plain packaging, and updated health warnings requirements, among other measures. Pursuant to amendments to the regulation, plain packaging is required at the manufacturer level as of December 5, 2019 and the retailer level as of January 5, 2020.
COMMENTS: The Regulation Amending the Regulation on the Procedures and Principles Related to the Production Methods, Labeling and Surveillance of Tobacco Products includes amendments adjusting the implementation date of the plain packaging provisions at the manufacturer level from July 5, 2019 to December 5, 2019, in addition to amending other provisions.
Note: This law has not been reviewed by our legal staff and was not relied upon for purposes of our analysis. We are providing it here for informational purposes only.
COMMENTS: The Law on Prevention and Control of Hazards of Tobacco Products, as amended, is the primary tobacco control law in Turkey. It regulates many aspects of tobacco control, including, but not limited to: prohibitions on public smoking; advertising, promotion and sponsorship; packaging and labeling; education campaigns; and penalties for violations.
The former title of this law, prior to amendment by Law 5727 in 2009, was "The Law on Prevention of Hazards of Tobacco Products."