Evaluation of Turkish Legal Regulations Regarding the Production of Transgenic Products in the Light of American Legal Regulations

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are one of the issues being studied as a solution to the problems arising from the increase in the world population and food crises. However, transgenic products are a subject that is approached with caution, especially in terms of health and environmental impacts. States have addressed this issue both in their domestic laws and in some international treaties. This study analyzes Turkey’s domestic legal regulations and the international legal sources that bind Turkey while trying to determine the situation in Turkey in terms of transgenic products. Employing a comparative legal analysis, the article evaluates the impacts of precautionary legal structures, bureaucratic hurdles, and international obligations—especially the Cartagena Protocol—on GMO research and development in Turkey. Key findings reveal that while Turkey adopts a precautionary approach aligned with European Union norms, the prolonged and complex approval procedures hamper scientific progress. Based on the American model’s streamlined structure, the study proposes regulatory revisions that maintain biosafety while facilitating research. These recommendations aim to balance international commitments with national agricultural innovation.