Obligation for Food Companies to Employ Food Engineers

October 12, 2025

Obligation for Food Companies to Employ Food Engineers

Food Engineers and Their Areas of Employment

According to Article 22(7) of Law No. 5996 on Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food, and Feed, food companies are required to employ at least one qualified personnel, in accordance with the type of work listed in Annex-1 of the same law.

This requirement applies to food establishments with an engine power exceeding 30 horsepower or employing more than 10 personnel in total. Businesses below these thresholds are exempt from this obligation. Additionally, the relevant provisions of the law clearly regulate the scope and exceptions concerning the employment of mandatory personnel.

The related Annex includes the following business sectors:
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, spices and nuts, honey and bee products, bread and bakery products, meat and meat products, functional foods, aromatic oils and plant extracts, food irradiation, food contact materials, ready-made and catering meals, slaughterhouses and meat processing plants, oils and margarine, fermented and pickled products, fruit and vegetable processing, foods for special dietary purposes, tea and herbal teas, seafood and fish markets, dairy products, confectionery, food supplements, powdered food mixtures, cereal and flour products, egg processing, storage, and packaging sectors.

Companies operating in the above-mentioned fields must employ at least one qualified personnel. Under Article 22(7) of Law No. 5996, food engineers are defined as the mandatory personnel required to be employed in such enterprises.

Furthermore, Article 10(ç) of the Regulation on the Registration and Approval Procedures of Food Establishments, published in the Official Gazette No. 28145 on December 17, 2011, provides that:

“If a food business operator conducts more than one activity at the same address and the total motor power of the equipment used in all activities exceeds 30 horsepower, or if the total number of employees exceeds 10, the operator is required to employ the mandatory personnel.”

Accordingly, under both Law No. 5996 and the Regulation published in the Official Gazette No. 28145, food engineers must be employed—at least one per facility—in the sectors specified by the law. Article 10 of the Regulation also sets out in detail the qualifications and requirements for such mandatory personnel.

Salaries of Food Engineers

According to the “Mandatory Employment Personnel Certificate” published by the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) – Chamber of Food Engineers on January 28, 2011:

The workplace address stated in the Mandatory Personnel Employment Agreement must match the address indicated in the capacity report or other documents showing the company’s production activity, motor power, and number of employees.
The qualifications of the mandatory personnel may vary depending on the company’s production type, number of employees, and engine power.
As of January 1, 2025, the minimum monthly net salary for mandatory personnel is set at 62,500 Turkish Lira.
According to the protocol signed between TMMOB Food, Chemical, and Agricultural Engineers Chambers, the salary of mandatory personnel cannot be less than that of a public sector engineer at grade 8/1 under relevant legislation.

Therefore, the salary of mandatory personnel must not fall below the chamber’s determined wage, which is based on the salary of a public engineer at the 8/1 grade level.

What is the Degree and Grade System?

The classification system is based on the Degree and Grade structure under the Civil Servants Law No. 657.

The degree determines the seniority and salary level of an employee (9 being the lowest, 1 the highest).
The grade indicates progress within the same degree (each degree includes three grades).

A university graduate civil servant starts at degree 9/1 and advances one grade per year, reaching degree 8/1 after a few years. An engineer at the 8/1 level in the public sector generally has 2–3 years of experience, and salaries are determined according to this system. Food engineers working in public institutions are also subject to this grading structure.

Inspections and Sanctions

Inspections regarding the employment of mandatory personnel in food establishments are carried out by the relevant departments of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Businesses that fail to comply with the relevant legislation may face administrative fines and temporary suspension of operations.

Relevant Clauses of Article 22 of Law No. 5996 (Responsibilities):

Obligations of Food and Feed Businesses:

(3) The operator must keep up-to-date records of its activities and present them to the Ministry upon request.
(5) The Ministry inspects food and feed businesses at all stages of production, processing, and distribution and maintains relevant records.
(6) The operator is responsible for preventing, reducing, or eliminating risks associated with products and must cooperate with the Ministry during this process. Measures taken by the Ministry cannot be obstructed.
(7) The businesses listed in Annex-1 must employ at least one staff member with a university degree relevant to their field of activity. The Ministry may amend Annex-1 based on scientific and sectoral developments, and such amendments are announced through official notices.
(8) The procedures and principles regarding the implementation of this article are regulated by the Ministry through a separate regulation.

Inspection Authority:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry oversees whether food businesses comply with the obligation to employ qualified personnel.
The Chamber of Food Engineers (TMMOB) monitors whether the minimum wage determined for mandatory personnel is being implemented.
If a business pays less than the set minimum wage, the Chamber may issue a warning and, if necessary, report the case to the relevant ministry or labor inspection authorities.

As of 2025, the administrative fine per person for non-compliance is 63,132 Turkish Lira.

Conclusion

Under Law No. 5996 on Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food, and Feed and the Regulation on the Registration and Approval Procedures of Food Establishments (Official Gazette No. 28145, dated December 17, 2011), businesses must employ at least one qualified personnel relevant to their field of operation. This obligation applies to food establishments with an engine power exceeding 30 horsepower or more than 10 employees in total. Accordingly, food engineers are considered mandatory personnel for such enterprises.

Additionally, as per the regulations issued by the TMMOB Chamber of Food Engineers, the minimum salary of mandatory personnel cannot be lower than that of a public engineer at grade 8/1, and as of January 1, 2025, this amount is set at a minimum of 62,500 TL.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry monitors whether businesses employ food engineers, while the TMMOB Chamber of Food Engineers oversees compliance with wage standards. Sanctions for non-compliance may include administrative fines, suspension of operations, or legal proceedings. The current administrative fine for 2025 is 63,132 Turkish Lira per person.