Turkish Cotton Certification Agreement Aims to Expand International Recognition

İZMİR — Türkiye’s National Cotton Council and Better Cotton Initiative signed an equivalence protocol linking certified Turkish cotton with an international sustainability framework, the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry announced on 6 October 2026.

The agreement concerns cotton certified under Good Agricultural Practices. The ministry said cotton-specific criteria and control points had been developed, covering issues including water efficiency, soil protection and working conditions.

The aim is to support the participation of independently inspected and certified Turkish cotton in global supply chains and increase sustainable sourcing by domestic industry.

The protocol does not establish a guaranteed export increase or a fixed price premium for producers. Farm-level certification and supply-chain traceability are also different stages. Businesses must check the applicable chain-of-custody model before making claims about physical fibre origin or certified volumes.

Read the original Turkish report · Official source · Additional official source · Additional official source.

Photo: Simon Kadula / Unsplash. Illustrative industry photograph; not the signing ceremony.