Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB Turkey Food Industry Council convened at the TOBB Union Center in Ankara. During the meeting, where developments on processed foods were addressed, it was pointed out that unfounded news damaged the sector.Expressing their opinions on the subject, council members said that there was rampant misinformation regarding GMOs and as a result, Russia has stopped tomato and cucumber imports. Touching on the increase in the food sector after the abolishment of the customs walls with the EU, the council members stated that the exported goods were only processed foods.Stating that debates on GMOs were still ongoing, TÜBİTAK officials stated TÜBİTAK does not have the funds to study the subject presently and that it would be possible for them to conduct studies if another scientific institution were to provide data.Member council Ümit Güvenç made a presentation on the subject during the meeting. Güvenç expressed that, “The sector consists of fruit-vegetable irrigation, drinks and beverages, frozen-dried-temporarily canned fruit and vegetables, canned fruit and vegetables (including pastes) and as of 2010 exports goods totaling a sum of 1,115 billion dollars and requires awareness as a sector.The sector is largely focused on exporting and is one of the highest foreign currency input sectors. For this reason an inventory is required. It projected that the 1 billion dollar sector will reach 4 billion dollars in 2023. The sector’s basic goods export push is insufficiently supported on a producer basis.Farming needs to be institutionalized and stability in basic goods prices needs to be maintained. The goal is to produce projects aimed at strengthening the export power of the sector, establishing trial farms and example plants that will produce basic goods and substantially fulfilling the 2023 target.”After Ünit Güvenç’s speech, a suggestion of a workshop on the subject was made by the Food Industry Council President Mecdet Buzbay.- Shopping malls and chain stores bill discussedRepresentatives of the Industry and Commerce Ministry informed the council members on the Shopping malls and chain stores bill and took questions. Ministry officials stated that the bill was forwarded to the Prime Ministry on February 5th, 2010 and was presently there.Council members stated that any possible suggestions could be appended to the bill during Assembly and commission talks but that the imperative was that the bill be passed.- GS1 barcode system introducedTOBB representatives attending the meeting introduced the GS1 Barcode System to the council members.Stating that GS1 is an organization aiming to improve the procurement chain standards and solutions, the representatives said that standards were comprised of solutions from experience and identifying keys used therein.