Yavuz Eroğlu Re-Elected as Chairman

Fahri Özer, General Manager of Süper Film, became Vice Chair. The meeting, held in Istanbul and conducted under the patronage of TOBB Management Board Vice Chair Şekib Avdagiç, continued with discussions of sector-specific issues following the elections.

In his opening remarks, Avdagiç emphasized that the purpose of TOBB Councils is to produce solutions to problems encountered on a sectoral basis and to work towards implementing these solution proposals, and ultimately to contribute to the development of sectors.

Pointing out that topics that will shed light on sector development are determined by the Council within TOBB, Avdagiç commented on the activities of Turkey's Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industry Council in this regard.

Recalling that many important works have been conducted by the Council to date, Avdagiç thanked Yavuz Eroğlu, Chair of TOBB's Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industry Council, for his effective and results-oriented work. The elections then proceeded, and Yavuz Eroğlu was unanimously re-elected as Chair of TOBB's Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industry Council, while Fahri Özer, General Manager of Süper Film, was re-elected as Vice Chair.

[caption id="attachment_157872" align="aligncenter"] Şekib AVDAGİÇ (center) - Yavuz EROĞLU (right)[/caption]

Following the completion of the TOBB Turkey Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industry Council elections, newly re-elected Chair Yavuz Eroğlu emphasized that they will continue their work more powerfully by cooperating with all stakeholders for the sector, and thanked all sector representatives who have given them this responsibility through their confidence, continuing with the following remarks:

"We will continue to be the strong voice of the sector. We will continue our work effectively as the unifying force of the plastics, rubber and composites sector. In our TOBB Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industry Council, we have civil society organizations representing our sector, leading companies in the sector, as well as ministry officials of competent authorities with legal regulatory and regulatory authority.

Our objective is to identify sectoral problems, develop government and private sector dialogue most effectively for solutions, and create more added value for Turkey's economy. The TOBB Plastics, Rubber and Composites Sector Council is the highest body in the sector with authority derived from law.

Plastics, rubber and composites are locomotive sectors in which Turkey ranks first in Europe and top five globally. To accelerate the momentum of these sectors and remove obstacles ahead, we will increase public-industry cooperation. We will accelerate our activities and work solution-oriented to resolve the issues of our sector. By working shoulder to shoulder, we will increase the pace of sectoral development."

Following the elections, the newly formed TOBB Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industry Council commenced its new term at its first meeting, thereby beginning its new agenda to address sectoral issues, most notably the EFSA process.

The first agenda item was titled "EFSA compliance of raw materials obtained through mechanical recycling in food-contact plastic packaging production." Regarding the EFSA process, company representatives representing the sector were present at the meeting to discuss proposals related to resolving problems experienced by Turkish companies, and officials of the relevant public ministries also attended the meeting.

Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Food Codex Department, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization EIA General Directorate, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization Environmental Management General Directorate, the Ministry of Commerce Export General Directorate, the Ministry of Commerce Product Safety Inspection General Directorate, Turkey Food and Beverage Industry Federation, Environment Agency Deposit Management System Directorate, and representatives of investing companies participated in the meeting to share their views.

Beyond the EFSA matter, another important agenda item was work that could be done to reduce costs aimed at developing logistics capabilities in Turkey's industry and exports.

Yavuz Eroğlu, re-elected as Chair of TOBB's Plastics, Rubber and Composites Industry Council, made a quick start to the first meeting and brought together sector representatives and ministry officials at the same table to resolve the EFSA-related issue that stood out as one of the agenda items.

"Within the scope of the impact of European Union regulations on production in Turkey, the Turkish Recycling Sector is experiencing problems in "production of food-grade r-PET granule products." The EU Food Authority EFSA requires that the Republic of Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, as Local Authority, make regulatory arrangements in the relevant legislation.

However, the Turkish Recycling Sector, which has invested in EFSA-approved technologies for export to Europe, cannot export because there is no relevant legislation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Should Turkey's Local Authority establish the necessary regulations, companies with a capacity of 105,000 tonnes per year will be able to realize the EUR 500 million export potential already prepared.

Additionally, by opening the way for use of food-grade r-PET, original raw material consumption will also decrease, and with the reduction in imports, Turkey's external trade deficit could be reduced, contributing to the economy.

Furthermore, since r-PET will be used in primary packaging, high-value-added raw materials will be created, so this regulation will have a positive contribution to our country's economy. Additionally, due to regulations in Europe, packaging producers there increasingly need r-PET raw materials and demand for this product is high. In this respect, Turkey's utilization of its potential in Europe has strategic significance within the scope of the Green Economy.

In the export of food-grade r-PET granule product to the European market, the new Regulation No. 2022/1616 published by the EU Commission set the condition that the relevant "Local Authority" be designated regarding the certification process, registration and inspection of all mechanical recycling facilities to which EFSA has provided and will provide "positive opinion" to the European market (within and outside the Union).

While in our country we currently face a situation where there is no possibility of domestic market sales due to existing packaging for food-contact use regulations, losing export opportunities to Europe due to the new regulation would mean that these investments generating foreign exchange for Turkey and creating additional employment would need to be opened up and supported. For this, first the designation of the "Local Authority" (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) must be determined by the relevant ministries, and the EFSA certification process must be completed".