At the date of September 8, 2004 Regulation about the Good  Agricultural Practice was published in Official Newspaper with the number of 25577 and came into force. It has been changed two times at the dates of 05.05.2005 and 05.15.2005.

Finally, in the Official Newspaper No. 27778 on 12.07.2010 “Regulation on Good Agricultural Practice” has been published, validated from 01.01.2011. 

ORSER has got the GAP work permission, with the approval of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs No 52 dated 04.01.2008.

Producer, producer group or individual entrepreneurs are implemented in the form of group certification. Group certification also should satisfy the elements of Quality Management System

documentation and are required to be compenent to manage the connections between manufacturers.

GAP has been processed to the regulations of reliable product supply, traceability and sustainability in agriculture, protection of natural sources and to prevent harming human and animal health.

A product which has GAP certificate;

• Should not contain chemical, microbiological or physical sediments which are harmful for human health.
• Should be produced without polluting enviroment and harming the natural balance
• Should achieve traceability and sustainability
• During the production, welfare of people dealing with production and other living things should not be affected negatively,
• Indicate that during the production, agricultural legislation in the country in which consumer has been living and agricultural products have been grown, should be in accordance.
• Main topics of the standard are Food Safety, Environmental protection and Occupational Health Safety and Welfare.
• Reliability of product improves quality and value.
• GAP-certified products are prefferred as a priority by the domestic hypermarkets.

Gap covers agricultural process from cultivation of seed to final packaing product. This standart is the most appropriate standart which is easily acceptable by Turkey and will be useful while marketing the product.

Technical Requirements (Control Points and Compliance Criteria)

Please see below for a brief summary of technical requirements based on the scope of GAP criteria;

• Tracebility: The products must be traceable to land or back to land,
• Internal Control: To ensure compliance of GAP activities with relevant legislation before the control.
• Varieties and Seedlings; Seeds and seedling  activities should be recorded and quality control systems should be applied to the reproductive materials produced or purchased.
• Planting of GMO’s must be valid according to laws of the production country.
• Land Registration and Land Management: A new production sites must be verified and for every land or greenhouse, identification system should be applied.
• Soil and Substrate Management: If Soil and Substrate fumigation is in progress; it should be explained and recorded.
• Use of Fertilizer: Fertilizer application must be recorded. Manure storage and machinery should be kept in good condition. Human sewage silage should not be used.
• Irrigation; Sewage water has not been made available, can not be used for irrigation. Methods of irrigation should take into account of water resources sustainability and water quality.
• Plant Protection: Integrated Pest Management should be applied. Accordance with the regualtions of the country, licensed chemical substances should be used.
• Chemicals should be selected by the trained personnel and should match the legal requirements of countiries both produced and sold.The application records should include many details such as the location, date, product name and active ingredient, pre harvest interval, etc. Application equipment and pesticide should be kept in good condition. Informations about Maximum Residue Limits in target countries must be proved and residue testing should be performed. Safe disposal of unused pesticides and pesticide containers must be provided.
• Harvesting: Hygiene risks must be assessed and basic hygiene measures should be implemented.
• Product Handling: Workers should have the basic instructions on hygiene management. Washing water must be available.( Potable)
• Post-harvest practices meet the legal requirements of destination country. Application records must be kept. Processing plants and warehouses must be kept in clean and safe conditions.
• Waste an Pollutşon Management: The pollution sources identified and appropriate measures should be taken when it is necessary.
• Occupational health, Safety and Welfare: Workers used dangerous equipment or chemicals must be trained for this purpose. First aid equipment and suitable protective clothing should be provided. The land must be suitable for shelter and basic services must be provided.
• Enviromental Issues: The environmental impact of agricultural activities  should be evaluated and appropriatemeasures must be taken when necessary.
• Complaint Form: To record and follow complaints about GAP appropriately, complaint form and its procedure should be applied.