Food-contact packaging — cups, containers, boxes, and similar products — is not only a functional area but also a legal area of responsibility. While compliance with the Turkish Food Codex and EU regulations is mandatory in Turkey, international certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and BRCGS Packaging Materials Ver.7 document production quality, hygiene standards, and supply chain transparency. Knowing what these documents mean is essential for choosing the right packaging supplier — and directly affects both regulatory compliance and business reputation.

You run a cafe or restaurant. The paper cup that reaches your customer’s hand is in direct contact with the beverage inside. The same applies to salad containers, soup cups, and ice cream tubs. So how do you know that this packaging is safe for food contact?

General answers such as “my supplier is a reputable company” or “the products are manufactured in Turkey” are not sufficient to address this question. What ensures trust in food-contact packaging is documentation — certification systems that verify production processes, raw material quality, and hygiene standards through independent audits.

In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about food packaging standards in the Turkish context, and explain what ISO, BRCGS, and the Turkish Food Codex mean for businesses.

Why Is Food-Contact Packaging a Critical Risk Area?

Packaging is the final link in the food safety chain. Despite all the hygiene protocols applied during the production process, contamination originating from food-contact packaging can render all of this effort meaningless.

Chemical migration is among the foremost of these risks. The transfer of a component from the packaging material into the food occurs more rapidly when hot beverages or acidic foods are involved. For this reason, the raw materials used for hot beverage cups, soup containers, and salad containers must pass specific migration tests. In addition, contact between printing inks and food, foreign matter contamination during production, and the storage conditions of packaging are also counted among the risk factors.

As a business owner, the most reliable way to determine whether your packaging supplier keeps these risks under control is to examine the certifications they hold.

What Do ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Mean in Packaging?

ISO certifications are documents that certify a packaging supplier’s management systems. They audit not the product itself, but how the production processes are managed.

ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management System

ISO 9001 verifies that an organization’s quality management system meets specific standards. It demonstrates that every stage — from raw material intake to finished product output — is managed within a defined, traceable, and continuously improvable framework.

For a packaging supplier, this certification proves that inconsistent product quality, order errors, and production-related non-conformities are systematically tracked and resolved. For a business owner, this means you can expect the same quality standard with every order.

ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental Management System

ISO 14001 certifies that the organization identifies its environmental impacts, monitors them, and takes active steps to reduce them. In packaging production, energy consumption, waste management, and raw material use fall within the scope of this system.

For businesses with sustainability goals, a supplier holding ISO 14001 certification is concrete evidence that supports claims of a green supply chain.

ISO 45001:2018 — Occupational Health and Safety

This certifies the production facility’s occupational health and safety management. Although not directly related to food safety, considering that a safe production environment supports quality and hygiene standards, this document can also be regarded as an indicator of a reliable supplier.

To review all of our certifications → Quality and Product Safety

What Is BRCGS Packaging Materials Ver.7? Why Does It Matter?

BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) is one of the most widely recognized certification systems in the field of food safety worldwide. The packaging-specific version — the BRCGS Packaging Materials Standard — serves as an international benchmark for packaging manufacturers supplying food and consumer products.

The BRCGS Global Packaging and Packaging Materials Standard helps packaging organizations provide safe and suitable products at appropriate hygiene standards for both food and non-food applications. Thanks to a hazard and risk-based approach covering facility hygiene standards, printed packaging controls, product inspection, and foreign matter control, BRCGS-certified organizations and their customers can be confident that their packaging is fit for purpose and will not pose a potential contamination risk.

BRCGS Ver.7: The Most Current Version Version 7 of the BRCGS Packaging Materials Standard was published on 28 October 2024. The new version includes updated requirements related to hazard and risk assessment, as well as revised requirements in the areas of internal audit, root cause analysis, preventive actions, incident management, and allergen management. Audits under the new standard began on 28 April 2025. This update makes it even more important to verify that your packaging supplier’s BRCGS certificate is compliant with the current version. Certificates issued under Version 6 will be audited under Ver.7 at renewal.

What Is the Difference Between BRCGS and ISO?

While ISO certifications audit the management system, BRCGS directly audits product and production safety in the field. The benefits of being certified to the BRCGS Standard include exemption from second-party audits by national retail chains, and priority access to national chain listings. For large chain restaurants, hotel groups, and corporate catering companies, working with a BRCGS-certified supplier reduces their own internal audit burden and strengthens supply chain reliability.

The Turkish Food Codex and EU Regulations: What Should Businesses Know?

In Turkey, the legal framework governing materials and articles intended to come into contact with food is regulated under the Turkish Food Codex. This codex is largely aligned with the European Union’s food contact material regulations.

What Does the Turkish Food Codex Cover?

The Turkish Food Codex sets out migration limits and lists of permitted substances for plastics, paper, cardboard, and printing materials that come into contact with food. It is a legal requirement that paper cups, salad containers, and similar packaging be produced within these limits.

As a business owner, the rule that directly affects you is this: under the scope of your food business license, you may be required to document that the packaging you use complies with this legislation. Your supplier’s Business Registration Certificate and relevant food safety certifications are the most straightforward way to meet this requirement.

The Importance of EU Regulations for Businesses

EU food contact material regulations apply directly to businesses that sell products to the EU market or carry a European brand license. In addition, major international hotel chains and catering companies have made it standard policy to require EU-compliant packaging from their suppliers.

Your supplier providing a written declaration that their products comply with both the Turkish Food Codex and EU regulations is the fundamental assurance that will protect you in procurement processes.

How Do You Choose the Right Supplier?

The currency and authenticity of certifications matter just as much as their existence. The practical steps to consider when evaluating a supplier are as follows:

First, check whether the documents are current. BRCGS certifications are renewed through annual audits; a certificate with an expired validity date no longer provides any assurance. You can verify BRCGS certificates through the certificate search system at brcgs.com.

Next, examine the scope of the certification. The statement “we hold a BRCGS certificate” is not sufficient on its own; it is necessary to confirm whether the certificate covers the packaging materials category and which product groups it includes.

Requesting references and test reports from the supplier can also be considered as a next step. Migration tests and raw material compliance documents provide additional assurance, particularly for hot beverage packaging and products involving direct food contact.

Finally, an on-site visit or facility photographs provide a concrete sense of whether the production environment meets hygiene standards. Production conditions are as much an indicator of a reliable supplier as the number of certifications held.

Take Action Now to Choose the Right Supplier

Standards for food-contact packaging — ISO, BRCGS, and the Turkish Food Codex — all point to a single requirement: every link in your supply chain must be audited, documented, and traceable. This is not merely a matter of regulatory compliance; it is a matter of protecting customer health and business reputation.

At PromoCup, we manufacture at our 7,000 m² facility in Silivri, Istanbul, with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, BRCGS Packaging Materials Ver.7, and FSC® certifications. All our products — from paper cups and paper bags to salad containers and ice cream tubs — are produced in compliance with the Turkish Food Codex and EU food contact material regulations.

For questions about our certifications, you can visit our quality page; for packaging solutions tailored to your business, you can request a quote right away.

Request a quote for certified packaging solutions →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if packaging is suitable for food contact?

Requesting a written declaration from the supplier confirming the product is suitable for food contact, along with a Business Registration Certificate and BRCGS or equivalent certification, is the most reliable approach. FSC® and ISO certifications provide additional assurance.

Does the difference between BRCGS Ver.7 and Ver.6 affect businesses?

Not directly; however, it is recommended to confirm that your supplier’s certificate is current under Ver.7. Since Ver.7 audits began in April 2025, renewed certificates will have been issued under this version.

Does a supplier with ISO certification need BRCGS as well?

ISO and BRCGS complement one another — neither replaces the other. ISO audits the management system, while BRCGS directly audits product and production safety. The vast majority of large buyers in the food sector look for both certifications.

Are there sanctions for businesses that use packaging non-compliant with the Turkish Food Codex?

During food business inspections, the compliance of packaging in use may also fall within the scope of review. In the event of non-compliance, administrative sanctions may apply. Retaining supplier documentation minimizes this risk.

Does a small cafe need to follow food packaging standards?

Yes. Regardless of scale, food businesses are responsible for ensuring that the packaging they use is compliant with food safety requirements. Working with a certified supplier is the most practical way to meet this responsibility.

Sources and Useful Links

Standards Organizations

Legal Regulations

Certificate Verification Tools

BRCGS Certificate Search

FSC Certificate Search

Standards Required for Food-Contact Packaging: ISO, BRCGS, and the Turkish Food Codex