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3.96.   (...) Key changes introduced to KOSGEB[the Turkish Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Support Administration] schemes since January 2016 have included: (i) the implementation of the Green Transformation Support Program in 2022 under the SME Development Support Programme; (...).

Table 3.19 Key features of KOSGEB support schemes, 2022
(…)
3. Enterprise development, growth and internationalization supports
Programme: SME Development Support Programme
Aims: Increase low-capacity SMEs to prepare projects in the sectors KOSGEB supports; enable SMEs to produce high quality goods/services; encourage general enterprise development activities of SMEs; and promote marketing activities to expand SMEs' domestic and international market shares.
Support: (...); energy efficient electric motor replacement; (...).
Value of support: 2018: TRY 311,897; 2019: TRY 150,382,370; 2020: TRY 285,951,406; 2021: TRY 412,024,685; 2022: TRY 277,673,822.
(…)

Box 3.2 Government bodies and their areas of activity on TBT matters
(...)
Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change: Construction products, wastes, certain chemicals, metal scraps, solid fuels
(...)

3.114.   Over the review period, Türkiye notified new or revised (...) various heating devices; energy labelling of light sources, electronic displays, household dishwashers, and refrigerating appliances; (...) The Republic of Korea raised a specific concern in the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Committee) regarding non-notification to the WTO of energy labelling regulations in 2021, and requested a transition period for implementation or an alternative approach to enable manufacturers to comply with these requirements.

3.115.   Other non-notified labelling requirements introduced since 2016 include: (...) and (ii) the introduction of a voluntary environmental label system in 2018.[118]
[118] Environmental Label Regulation, Official Gazette (2018), No. 30570, 19 October. (...)

3.116.   (...) In addition to the STCs[specific trade concerns] raised in the TBT Committee relating to energy labelling and import inspections on toys (see above), the United States raised an STC regarding new requirements introduced by the Ministry of Health for cosmetics products, their lack of notification, and the negative impact on US exports of these products to Türkiye by underlying new requirements for cosmetics products via changes to the requirements for submission of product registrations through a new online filing system (the Product Tracing System(...)

3.124.   Under the Strategic Plan of the MAF[The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry] 2019-2023, SPS-related priorities include: (...) and (v) taking ecologically sound plant health measures in plant production.(...)

3.125.   The legislative framework for the approval of GMOs and products thereof in Türkiye is Law No. 5977 of 2010 on Biosafety (as amended) and the Regulation on Genetically Modified Organisms and Products Thereof.[143] The MAF[The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry] is responsible for approvals of GMOs and GM products following the abolition of the Biosafety Board in 2018.
[143] Law No. 5977 on Biosafety. Viewed at: http://www.lawsturkey.com/law/law-on-bio-safety-5977. Regulation on Genetically Modified Organisms and Products Thereof.

3.126.   The approval, evaluation, and decision-making process for GM product applications is set out in Articles 8 and 11 of the Regulation. Prior to the first importation of each GMO or product thereof, applications are submitted to the MAF[The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry] by the importer or the owner of the gene, or by a private or corporate person in case of locally developed GMOs. Separate scientific committees are formed for the food, feed, or other purposes of use decided by the applicant. The MAF decides within 90 days whether the application is accepted or not, as well as whether it would be processed as a new application or addressed under the simplified procedure.[145] (...) Risk assessment and socio-economic evaluation committees are established by the MAF to evaluate the GMO applications. (...)
[145] The simplified procedure set out in Article 12 of the Regulation. It is used in circumstances where, based on available information, there is considered to be no harm to human, animal, and plant health; the environment; and biological diversity arising from GMOs and their products.

3.127.   Approved GM products are published in the Official Gazette and are listed at the webpage of the Turkish Biosafety Information Exchange Mechanism (http://tbbdm.gov.tr/OnayliGDO2.aspx). Decisions are valid for 10 years. As of end-October 2022, there were 45 GM product approvals for maize, soybeans, and genetically modified microorganisms.