Ömer Karadeniz, President of the Plastic Industrialists Federation (PLASFED), stated that chemicals must be registered for them to be imported into Turkey, saying, “All substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 1 ton or more per year by a manufacturer or importer and all substances planned for release must enter the Chemical Registration System.”
Noting that chemical inputs are used in all industrial production, Karadeniz expressed a desire for a smooth and compatible transition. He emphasized, “Let’s not forget the likelihood of halting the import of chemicals that have not been finally registered under KKDIK, which could seriously disrupt our country's industrial production.”
Issues may also arise in export
Reminding that the chemical sector, which realized approximately $31 billion in exports in 2024, is Turkey's second-largest exporter, Karadeniz stated, “Our plastic sector, which is part of the chemical industry, maintained its leadership among sub-sectors by achieving $9.5 billion in exports. However, we may face issues in production and export due to the KKDIK implementation. We need to import to access the necessary raw materials.
If we cannot access raw materials, the sector may experience significant job losses. If final registrations are not completed, many buyers to whom we export might turn to different countries to avoid risk. In many of our business lines, exports happen through long-term contracts. If there is a raw material shortage, there is a potential for the necessary collaborations to break down. All these data should be kept in mind and action should be taken accordingly,” he said.
There are companies hearing about the implementation for the first time
Although the KKDIK regulation came into effect in 2017, some companies from various sectors are not aware of the process. PLASFED President Ömer Karadeniz mentioned that “There are those who have heard about the KKDIK implementation for the first time and request information from us. We are constantly trying to inform our members on this issue,” while O. Doğu Kaya, President of the Rubber Association, stated that they have been working to inform industry organizations since the regulation was issued.
Translated by Artificial Intelligence
