In the week of 27 July – 2 August 2026, 20 regulations were published in the Official Gazette (Resmî Gazete). The highlights this week include Law No. 7589, which aims to speed up judicial proceedings, Law No. 7590, which introduces tax incentives for nuclear energy investments and social security support for the tourism sector, and three separate regulations shaping Turkey-Maldives trade relations. Below, the regulations are grouped by subject, with a summary of what has changed, who is affected and the practical consequence of each.
Court Decisions
Limitation Periods in Disciplinary Penalties: Clarity from the Council of State
The Second Chamber of the Council of State (Danıştay) ruled that, in disciplinary investigations against civil servants, if the last day of the one-month period for initiating the investigation falls on a weekend or public holiday, the period is extended to the next working day. What has changed: Administrations will be able to lawfully initiate the investigation on the next working day even if the last day of this period falls on a holiday; the period will not be artificially shortened. Who is affected: Public employees subject to the Civil Servants Law, administrations imposing disciplinary penalties and provincial disciplinary boards. Practical consequence: For civil servants, the periods in which the right of defence can be exercised become more predictable; administrations gain additional certainty in lawfully initiating investigations.
Specialised Judges for Protective Measures on the Internet
The Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) assigned the task of examining requests for protective measures on the internet (access blocking, content removal, etc.) to the first criminal judgeship of peace in provinces with eight or more criminal judgeships of peace. What has changed: The decision will take effect from 1 August 2026; new applications will be directed to the specialised courts after 1 September 2026, and pending files will not be affected by this allocation. Who is affected: Criminal judges of peace, those publishing online, and victims of violations of personality rights. Practical consequence: Requests for protective measures against slanderous, insulting or reputation-damaging posts will be assessed by a specialised judicial staff. For businesses and individuals facing reputational violations originating from social media, this specialisation may contribute to a more consistent process.
Laws
Law No. 7589: Comprehensive Amendment for Judicial Efficiency
Law No. 7589, which entered into force on 31 July 2026, amends a number of core statutes ranging from the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law to the Code of Criminal Procedure. What has changed: In the enforcement sale of immovables acquired by inheritance, the first auction will now be held only among the heirs; the use of the electronic sales portal is being expanded; court and prosecutor documents can be sent electronically in notarial transactions; the waiting period between hearings may not exceed three months; and the institution of deferral of the announcement of the verdict is being expanded. Who is affected: Parties to enforcement proceedings, heirs, claimants and defendants in lawsuits, and defendants in criminal proceedings. Practical consequence: Proceedings are expected to speed up in real estate disputes and in lawsuits arising from tenancy relationships with foreigners; limiting the intervals between hearings may help cases conclude within a more predictable time frame.
Law No. 7590: Tax Incentive for Nuclear Energy, Insurance Support for Tourism
Law No. 7590, which entered into force on the same date, brings together regulations in different areas. What has changed: Nuclear power plant investors are granted VAT refunds and tax exemptions until 31 December 2045; the deduction for borrowing interest in corporate tax is reduced from 50% to 25%; social security premium support is introduced for employees of tourism facilities for the May-December 2026 period; the licences of drivers exceeding 75 penalty points during the probationary driving period will be cancelled; and administrative fines in the transport of dangerous goods are increased up to TRY 10 million. Who is affected: Energy investors, accommodation facility operators, new drivers, logistics and maritime businesses. Practical consequence: An improvement in the personnel costs of accommodation businesses is expected during the peak tourism season; this support may provide a cash flow advantage for businesses in tourism-oriented regions.
Regulations and Board Decisions
Definition of Hydrogen Gas Added to the Mining Regulation
The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources added hydrogen gas to the Mining Regulation as an energy and raw material source. This technical update concerns businesses operating in the mining sector.
Municipal Standard Staffing Norms Updated
What has changed: The reference year for standard staffing calculations has been moved from 2023 to 2025; the term “inspection board” has been redefined as “guidance and inspection board”; surplus director positions will be placed in “frozen” status and, when they become vacant, may be abolished by decision of the municipal council. Who is affected: Municipalities, local government unions and the administrative staff of these institutions. Practical consequence: Local governments, including Alanya Municipality, will carry out personnel planning based on 2025 data and the new freezing mechanism.
Comprehensive Amendment to the Pre-school and Primary Education Regulation
What has changed: The electronic development report issued together with the school report card is being extended; an orientation programme becomes compulsory for children starting school; elective course selection in lower secondary schools will be made via e-Okul in January-February; students are required to prepare at least one project during the school year (if not submitted, the project mark is zero); quota requirements will not apply to transfers of children of martyrs and veterans and of children with special educational needs; and certificates of achievement/appreciation will not be awarded in cases of 20 days or more of unexcused absence. Who is affected: Students, parents, teachers and school administrations. Practical consequence: Parents will be able to follow their children’s social-emotional development as well as their academic achievement; the absence and project requirements tighten school discipline.
Police Disciplinary Boards Regulation Repealed
The Ministry of Interior has entirely repealed the Regulation on the Working Principles and Procedures of the Disciplinary Boards of the Security Organisation, which had been in force since 1980. No new regulation has yet been published to replace it. This may create temporary uncertainty in how disciplinary proceedings concerning police personnel operate. Police directorates, police officers and security personnel subject to disciplinary proceedings are affected by this change.
Maltepe University Education and Examination Regulation
Maltepe University published a new education and examination regulation for its associate and bachelor’s degree programmes other than the Faculty of Medicine. What has changed: A letter grading system (AA-FF) has been adopted; the average required to pass is defined as 2.00, honours as 3.00-3.49 and high honours as 3.50 and above; the attendance requirement has been raised to at least 70% for theoretical courses and at least 80% for practical courses. The regulation covers all of the university’s bachelor’s and associate degree students.
Public Institutions May Not Share Personal Data on the Internet
The Personal Data Protection Board (KVKK) adopted a principle decision on the sharing of personal data on the internet by data controllers that are public legal entities, such as municipalities, universities and special provincial administrations. What has changed: Data such as name and surname, Turkish ID number, telephone number and exam scores may now be shared only on the basis of a valid processing condition and to a minimum extent; exam results and lottery draws will be announced only via e-Devlet or two-factor authentication systems through which the person concerned can access only their own result. Who is affected: Municipalities, special provincial administrations, universities and other public bodies, as well as citizens dealing with these institutions. Practical consequence: Disclosures without a valid basis must be removed and data must be masked; where a violation is detected, the Board may initiate proceedings ex officio.
Communiqués and Trade Regulations
Trade Package with the Maldives: Tariff Quotas and Customs Duty Rates
Three regulations published in succession on 31 July – 1 August 2026 shape imports under the Turkey-Maldives Preferential Trade Agreement. What has changed: The general communiqué provides that tariff quotas will be allocated either by the Demand Collection Method (application one month before the start of the period, via e-Devlet or the Ministry’s website) or by the Allocation by Order of Declaration Method (automatically upon registration of the customs declaration); public bodies such as the Meat and Milk Board, the Turkish Grain Board and Turkish Sugar Factories are given priority in allocation. A Presidential Decision specific to fish products provides that 50% of the customs duty will apply within a quota with a capacity of 200 tonnes per year. A separate Presidential Decision on aquatic products provides for customs duties ranging from 0% to 37.5% depending on the product’s tariff code (GTİP) and an additional 3.8% financial levy on certain items; the regulations entered into force on 1 August 2026. Who is affected: Firms importing products of Maldivian origin, customs brokers, and wholesalers and retailers in the food and aquatic products sector. Practical consequence: Firms that do not apply on time and using the correct method (TTY/BSGTY) may not benefit from the reduced tariff; correct GTİP classification is an important cost item for gastronomy supply chains in tourist regions.
Change in Tax Security Rates
The Ministry of Treasury and Finance published the Communiqué Amending the General Communiqué on the Tax Procedure Law (Serial No: 594). What has changed: The security obligation of compliant taxpayers who benefited from the tax reduction right in prior years’ returns has been reduced by one fifth (20%); the security obligation of taxpayers found, as a result of a tax audit, to have used fake or misleading documents has been increased fivefold, and these taxpayers must complete the security within 30 days of the tax office’s letter. Who is affected: All taxpayers, especially those undergoing tax audits and those entitled to the compliance reduction. Practical consequence: While compliant businesses enjoy easier cash flow, those found to have committed irregularities will face a significant financial burden.
Flexibility in Investment Measurement in Accounting Standards
The Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority amended the TMS 28 standard. What has changed: Investments in associates and joint ventures may be measured at fair value through profit or loss instead of using the equity method; for investments with a mixed structure (held partly through a venture capital organisation and partly directly), both methods may be applied together. Who is affected: Venture capital organisations, investment funds/trusts and insurance companies. Practical consequence: Companies with multi-layered investment structures will be able to report their financial statements more flexibly.
New Rules on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting
An amendment to the TSRS 2 standard details the disclosures businesses must make on their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions; additional information on financed emissions is made mandatory, and specific disclosure requirements are introduced for banks and insurance companies. This regulation, which concerns large-scale businesses and financial institutions, aims at the systematic reporting of carbon footprints.
Import Control List for Agricultural Products Updated
The Ministry of Trade updated the import control list of products subject to control by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. A new category was created for food additives and flavourings, and seals (gaskets) were added to the scope of control. The regulation, which concerns importers and food processing facilities, requires products to be reclassified according to the updated list.
Change in the Employment of Contracted Personnel
A legal basis has been provided for persons appointed to social services staff positions while working for additional lesson fees at the Ministry of Family and Social Services to remain in post while on leave or during military service. The regulation covers contracted personnel employed at the relevant Ministry.
July 2026 Trade Union Membership Statistics
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security published the numbers of workers and trade union membership rates in 10 branches of activity under Law No. 6356 (for example, 4,508,122 workers are registered in the commerce-office-education-fine arts branch). These data serve as a reference for determining a union’s authority to represent workers in collective bargaining negotiations and for exercising the right to strike/lock-out; they directly concern workers’ and employers’ organisations.
Appointments and Announcements
Senior Appointments to Public Institutions
By Presidential decision, a total of nine appointment and dismissal decisions were published concerning the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, the Ministry of Justice, the Forensic Medicine Institute, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Social Security Institution, the General Directorate of Meteorology and the Energy Market Regulatory Authority. These decisions, part of routine administrative operations, cover senior staff of the relevant institutions and do not directly affect regional business/legal practice.
This compilation is a general summary of the regulations published in the Official Gazette in the week of 27 July – 2 August 2026 and does not constitute legal advice. For an assessment of your specific situation, it is advisable to seek professional legal advice from a lawyer.
Legal Notice: This text has been prepared for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. sophoshukuk.com makes no referral, guarantee or promise of outcome. Each case must be assessed on its own particular circumstances; for your specific dispute, please obtain professional advice from a lawyer.