Chemical Import to Turkey: KKDIK, SDS, Dangerous Goods

In chemical imports, the paperwork matters as much as the shipping. A missing safety data sheet or a wrongly declared hazard class can get your cargo rejected at the port. This page brings together sourcing, KKDIK, dangerous goods rules and packaging for small companies importing chemicals into Turkey for the first time.

Where chemical imports come from

Turkey relies heavily on imported chemical raw materials. The sources small importers work with most often are:

China and India: Pigments, intermediates, additives and specialty chemicals, shipped by sea from ports such as Shanghai, Ningbo or Nhava Sheva.
EU countries (Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy): Specialty and high-purity chemicals, via Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg or by road.
Gulf countries: Polymers and petrochemicals, mostly by sea via ports such as Jebel Ali.

Starting with a small shipment

Starting with a few drums or IBCs keeps both risk and stock costs low. Non-hazardous chemicals travel easily as LCL (less than container load). For dangerous goods, however, not every consolidator or carrier accepts LCL. Options can be narrower and transit times longer, so tell us the hazard class when you ask for a quote.

Your first chemical import, step by step

Identify the product. Chemical name, CAS number, HS code and hazard class (with UN number, if any) are your core data.
Get the supplier’s SDS. Section 14 of the safety data sheet shows the transport class and packing group.
Check KKDIK status. Clarify the substance’s registration and your obligations as importer before you buy.
Check for permits. Precursors and certain controlled substances need a permit before import.
Choose the packaging. Dangerous goods must arrive in UN-approved packaging with the correct labels and marks.
Book the shipment. The dangerous goods declaration (DGD) and SDS go to the carrier for approval; nothing loads before approval.
Arrange a Turkish SDS. Products placed on the Turkish market need a Turkish-language safety data sheet (GBF).
Plan clearance and delivery. ADR rules apply to the road leg from the port to your warehouse.

Regulations and permits

The summary below reflects the rules in force as of October 2026. Chemical regulations change often, so confirm each product with a chemical regulatory consultant and your customs broker.

KKDIK registration

KKDIK is Turkey’s equivalent of EU REACH: the Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Substances manufactured in or imported into Turkey at 1 tonne or more per year must be registered in the Chemical Registration System (KKS) of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. The obligation sits with the importer, or with a Turkey-based only representative appointed by the foreign manufacturer.

A 2025 amendment staggered the registration deadlines by tonnage and hazard:

31 December 2026: Substances at 1,000 tonnes or more per year, substances very toxic to aquatic life at 100 tonnes or more per year, and carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMR) substances at 1 tonne or more per year.
31 December 2028: Substances at 100 tonnes or more per year.
31 December 2030: Substances at 1 tonne or more per year.

There are interim steps too: substances placed on the market for the first time need pre-registration within a short window, and interim registration steps were due during 2026. If you are new to this, start by finding out whether your supplier has registered the substance in Turkey and which obligations fall on you.

Turkish safety data sheet (GBF)

Hazardous substances and mixtures placed on the Turkish market need a Turkish-language SDS that follows the KKDIK annex. It must be prepared by an expert authorised under the regulation; simply translating the supplier’s English SDS is not enough.

Precursors and controlled chemicals

Importing drug precursor chemicals requires a permit from TITCK, the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency. Ozone-depleting substances, fluorinated greenhouse gases, persistent organic pollutants, chemicals listed under the Chemical Weapons Convention and certain substances affecting occupational health are also controlled under separate import communiqués. For these products, the permit or control certificate is checked when the customs declaration is filed.

Dangerous goods transport rules

The IMDG Code applies at sea and ADR on the road. Dangerous goods fall into nine classes, from explosives (Class 1) to miscellaneous dangerous goods (Class 9); see our dangerous goods classes page for details. In Turkey, companies that send, receive, fill or unload dangerous goods may, under certain conditions, need a Dangerous Goods Activity Certificate (TMFB) from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and must work with a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (TMGD). Exemptions depend on quantities and activity, so review your situation with a TMGD.

Transport and packing tips

Packaging depends on quantity and the nature of the product:

Drums (steel or plastic): Flexible for small and medium quantities; palletised for LCL or FCL.
IBCs (1,000-litre tanks): Common for medium volumes of liquids. For dangerous goods they must be UN-approved and within their inspection date.
ISO tanks: Suited to large volumes of bulk liquids. A cleaning certificate and details of the previous cargo are required.
Bags and big bags: For powders and granules; moisture protection is key.

Also keep in mind:

Segregation: Substances that can react with each other (acids and bases, oxidisers and flammables) must not be stowed side by side. IMDG segregation rules matter especially in LCL.
Labels and marks: Packages need the UN number, proper shipping name and hazard labels; FCL containers also need placards on the outside.
Temperature: Heat-sensitive products may need a reefer container or a seasonal routing choice.
Leak-proofing: Check lids, seals and pallet stability before loading.

Common mistakes

Declaring a product as non-hazardous, or booking without reading the SDS.
Assuming the supplier has taken care of KKDIK.
Ordering a permit-controlled substance without a permit.
Using IBCs that are not UN-approved or are past their inspection date.
Producing the Turkish SDS as a mere translation of the English one.
Ignoring port dwell restrictions for dangerous goods and the need for an ADR-equipped truck.

Chemical exports from Turkey

Chemicals are one of Turkey’s largest export sectors. According to the Istanbul Chemicals and Chemical Products Exporters’ Association (IKMIB), the sector exported about USD 31.9 billion in 2025, ranking second among export sectors. Plastics, paints, cleaning products and cosmetics are major items. If you export chemicals, prepare the destination’s registration requirements (such as REACH in the EU) and dangerous goods documents with the same care.

How Medius helps in this sector

Thanks to our boutique structure, we stay with you step by step even when your first order is just a few drums:

LCL and FCL sea freight for hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals, plus ISO tank and IBC shipment planning.
ADR-compliant road freight to and from Europe.
Coordination in preparing the SDS and dangerous goods declaration for carrier approval.
Customs clearance coordination with your broker and follow-up on permits.

KKDIK registration, Turkish SDS preparation and safety adviser services require specialists; we will point you to the right experts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ship hazardous chemicals as LCL?

For some classes, yes, but not every consolidator or carrier accepts dangerous goods. Share the UN number and class and we will review suitable options with you.

Can I import a chemical without KKDIK registration?

The registration timeline is staggered by tonnage and hazard, with interim steps such as pre-registration. Clarify your position with a chemical regulatory consultant before importing.

Is the supplier’s SDS enough?

For transport and booking, the supplier’s SDS is the key document. To place the product on the Turkish market, however, you need a compliant Turkish SDS.

Should I choose IBCs or an ISO tank?

For a few tonnes of liquid, IBCs are more flexible. For regular, large bulk liquid purchases, an ISO tank is usually more efficient.

If you are planning your first chemical import, share the product name, UN number and quantity through our quote form and we will talk through the transport options and what to watch for.

Chemical Import and Chemical Logistics: KKDIK, SDS and Dangerous Goods Shipping