Primary Environmental Law: Turkey’s environmental governance is founded on the Environmental Law No. 2872 (originally enacted 1983, with later amendments). This framework law establishes fundamental principles of pollution prevention, sustainable use of natural resources, and public participation. It affirms the constitutional right to a healthy environment and duties of the state and citizens to protect nature. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change (Turkish: Çevre, Şehircilik ve İklim Değişikliği Bakanlığı) is the lead regulatory authority for environmental policy, permitting, and enforcement.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Major projects in Turkey are subject to an EIA process (Çevresel Etki Değerlendirmesi or ÇED) prior to approval. The EIA Regulation (aligned with EU EIA Directive principles) requires developers of high-impact facilities to conduct studies on potential environmental effects and obtain a Positive EIA Decision from the Ministry before construction. Certain low-impact industries may be exempt, but most large industrial or infrastructure projects cannot proceed without this assessment. The EIA process ensures considerations like site selection, waste management plans, and emergency response measures are evaluated.
Environmental Permitting: After a positive EIA, facilities must obtain an Environmental Permit and License, which consolidates various sectoral permits (e.g. emissions, wastewater discharge, waste storage) into a single approval. Applications are submitted through the Ministry’s online portal, and periodic inspections are conducted to verify compliance. For example, an industrial plant would typically need permits for air emissions, wastewater discharge, and hazardous waste handling as part of this integrated environmental license. Operating without the proper environmental permits can lead to administrative fines or suspension of activities by authorities.
Specific Environmental Regulations: Turkey has detailed regulations for specific environmental media and issues, many of which are modelled after European Union directives as part of Turkey’s harmonization efforts. Key regulations include:
- The Regulation on Control of Industrial Air Pollution, setting emission limits for industries.
- The Regulation on Control of Hazardous Wastes, which mandates proper classification, storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste. Facilities must maintain waste logs and use licensed transporters and disposal sites.
- The Zero Waste Regulation (Sıfır Atık Yönetmeliği), a recent initiative that requires businesses and municipalities to implement waste sorting and recycling programs. This is part of a nationwide “zero waste” campaign to promote circular economy practices.
- Regulations on water pollution control and water quality, soil contamination, noise control, and chemical management. Notably, Turkey introduced “KKDİK”, a chemicals regulation analogous to the EU REACH Regulation, which requires registration and evaluation of chemicals to protect health and the environment (effective since 2017).
Turkey is steadily aligning its environmental legislation with EU standards, as seen in the continuous updates to laws on air quality, waste management, and industrial pollution control. For example, the Turkish regulation on major industrial accident prevention mirrors the EU Seveso Directive in requiring high-hazard facilities to implement safety management systems and emergency plans. Enforcement of environmental laws is supported by the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes serious pollution incidents (e.g. illegal dumping) with penalties including fines and imprisonment.
Official Resources: Environmental laws and regulations can be accessed (in Turkish) via the official legislative database (Mevzuat) of the Republic of Turkey. The Ministry’s website (csb.gov.tr) also provides guidance documents and updates. For instance, the Ministry’s online system “E-Çevre” allows tracking of permit applications and environmental monitoring data.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in Turkey
Primary OHS Law: Turkey’s workplace safety regime is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 (enacted June 2012, Official Gazette No. 28339). This law was a landmark reform aligning Turkey’s labor safety rules with EU Directive 89/391/EEC (the EU OSH Framework Directive). Law 6331 requires all employers – in both public and private sectors – to take measures to ensure a safe and healthy work environment, regardless of business size or industry. Some exceptions apply (e.g. domestic houseworkers, police/military operations), but otherwise the law’s coverage is comprehensive.
Employer Duties and Safety Personnel: Under Law 6331, employers must carry out risk assessments, provide safety training and personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees, implement emergency action plans, and monitor health risks. A critical requirement (phased in and fully in force as of 1 Jan 2025) is the appointment of certified OHS professionals: each workplace must have access to a qualified Occupational Safety Specialist and a Workplace Doctor/Occupational Physician.. In higher hazard workplaces (e.g. mines, heavy industry) with 10+ employees, additional on-site health personnel are required.. These experts advise on compliance, perform regular inspections, and help implement safety management systems.
Worker Rights: The law guarantees workers the right to be informed and consulted on OHS matters and the right to refuse unsafe work. Employers must form worker safety committees in larger workplaces and involve employees in decision-making on health and safety. Any work accident or occupational illness must be reported and investigated to prevent recurrence.
Regulations and Standards: Law 6331 is supplemented by numerous regulations (by-laws) detailing specific safety requirements, often reflecting EU standards. These cover topics such as: use of work equipment, personal protective gear, workplace ventilation and noise, handling of chemicals, manual lifting, construction site safety, mine safety, etc. For example, the Regulation on Workplace Risk Assessment outlines how employers must systematically evaluate hazards, and the Regulation on Emergency Preparedness requires regular drills and first-aid arrangements. There is also a regulation aligning with the EU’s ATEX directives to prevent explosive atmospheres in workplaces. Turkey’s Ministry of Labor and Social Security (now within the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, “Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı”) and its affiliated labor inspectorates are responsible for enforcing OHS laws through workplace inspections and sanctions.
Enforcement and Penalties: Non-compliance with OHS obligations can result in administrative fines and even criminal liability in Turkey. Employers who fail to appoint the required safety personnel or neglect risk prevention measures face significant fines for each violation Repeat offenders may have their operations suspended. If negligence leads to a serious workplace accident, responsible individuals can be prosecuted – Turkish law penalizes injuries or fatalities caused by failure to ensure safety. For instance, a fatal accident due to employer negligence can lead to imprisonment under Turkish criminal law. The new regulations effective 2025 heighten enforcement, aiming to reduce Turkey’s work accident rates and align with EU best practices.
Official Resources: The text of Law No. 6331 (in Turkish) is available on Turkey’s Official Gazette and the Mevzuat database. The Ministry of Labor publishes guides and sector-specific communiqués to help employers comply. Additionally, Turkey’s national occupational safety institute (ISGÜM) and the EU OSHA country page for Türkiye provide summaries of OHS legislation and initiatives.
Sustainability and Climate Initiatives in Turkey
Beyond traditional EHS compliance, Turkey’s regulatory landscape increasingly emphasizes sustainability and climate change. Turkey ratified the Paris Agreement in October 2021 and has committed to an ambitious target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2053. To meet these goals, Turkey is developing new laws and action plans that a regulatory expert should be aware of:
- Climate Change Framework Law (2025): In July 2025, the Turkish Parliament adopted the country’s first comprehensive Climate Law, which was published in the Official Gazette on 9 July 2025. This law establishes the legal basis for a national Emissions Trading System (ETS) and formalizes climate governance structures. It creates a high-level Carbon Market Board and a Climate Change Directorate to oversee carbon pricing, emissions monitoring, and trading of emission allowances. The aim is to gradually introduce cap-and-trade mechanisms similar to the EU ETS, incentivizing industries to reduce emissions in line with the net-zero 2053 target. The Climate Law also provides for climate adaptation funding and the possibility of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for trade, showing Turkey’s intent to integrate into emerging global carbon markets.
- National Climate Action Plans: Turkey updated its National Climate Change Action Plan and is integrating climate considerations into sectoral policies (energy, transport, agriculture). The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change leads these efforts, and a High-Level Climate Council was formed to coordinate cross-ministerial action. Turkey’s vulnerability to climate risks (e.g. droughts, wildfires, floods) has driven regulations on disaster risk management and encouraged renewable energy investments. For example, Turkey offers incentives for solar and wind energy projects, and has enacted a Renewable Energy Law supporting clean energy deployment.
- EU Green Deal Alignment: As the EU’s Green Deal and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will affect Turkish exporters, Turkey released a Green Deal Action Plan in 2021. While not a law, this plan outlines steps to harmonize Turkish regulations with the EU’s sustainable trade and carbon reduction requirements. A regulatory expert should track developments such as Turkey’s draft Green Taxonomy for sustainable finance and potential new waste and product regulations (like circular economy measures) that align with EU environmental standards.
- Other Sustainability Measures: Turkey has implemented initiatives like the Zero Waste Project (mentioned above) championed by the government to reduce waste at source. There are also corporate sustainability reporting trends: while not yet mandatory by law, large companies in Turkey increasingly follow ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting frameworks under pressure from international investors. The Capital Markets Board of Turkey has issued some guidelines on sustainability disclosure for public companies, in line with global standards. An EHS expert might not be directly responsible for corporate sustainability reports, but understanding this context can be useful, especially as regulations evolve.
International Commitments: Turkey is party to major multilateral environmental agreements which shape its regulatory framework, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, the Montreal Protocol (ozone-depleting substances), the Basel Convention (hazardous waste trade), the Stockholm Convention (POPs), and biodiversity treaties. It has also ratified key ILO conventions related to labor rights and safety. These commitments often spur domestic legislation (for example, the Paris Agreement spurred the Climate Law, and the Basel Convention is implemented via Turkey’s Waste Shipments Regulation).
Key Resources: The Ministry’s Climate Change Department website (iklim.gov.tr) provides information on Turkey’s climate legislation and policies. The official Eleventh Development Plan of Turkey (2019–2023) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) document submitted to the UNFCCC are also useful for understanding Turkey’s strategic sustainability goals.
Conclusion
In summary, the EHS regulatory landscape in Turkey encompasses a broad array of laws and regulations that an expert must be conversant with. In Turkey, the core pillars are Environmental Law No. 2872 and OHS Law No. 6331, underpinned by numerous regulations aligned with EU standards, and an increasing emphasis on climate action (as evidenced by the new Climate Law and net-zero pledge).