Environmental Compliance
"What environmental regulations must businesses comply with in Turkey?"
Quick Answer
Environmental compliance in Türkiye typically involves (depending on the activity) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening/approval, environmental permits and licenses for emissions/discharges, waste management obligations (including hazardous waste where relevant), and ongoing monitoring/reporting duties; non-compliance can trigger administrative fines, suspension of activities, remediation orders, and in some cases criminal exposure under the applicable legislation.
Environmental Law Framework in Türkiye
Environmental compliance in Türkiye is primarily regulated by Environmental Law No. 2872 and related secondary legislation (including EIA and permitting regulations), which set out preventative obligations, permitting requirements, monitoring duties, and sanctions for pollution and non-compliance.
Key Points to Remember
- Project- and sector-specific rules apply; many activities require EIA screening/approval before investment or expansion.
- Permits/licenses may be required for air emissions, wastewater discharges, noise, and other environmental impacts, depending on the facility and capacity.
- Waste management (including hazardous waste, packaging, and industrial by-products) must follow strict handling, recordkeeping, and disposal rules.
- Non-compliance may lead to administrative fines, activity suspension, remediation obligations, and potential liability for damages.
Practical Compliance Steps for Businesses
From a practical standpoint, businesses should map their operations against the applicable environmental permit/EIA requirements, maintain compliant waste and emissions procedures, and ensure internal documentation (monitoring records, disposal manifests, vendor licenses, and reporting) is audit-ready.
Foreign investors should combine Turkish legal advice with technical environmental consultancy to confirm whether EIA and permitting obligations apply at the planning stage (site selection, capacity, process design), because remediation and permit gaps can delay operations and materially increase costs.
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