Official Gazette Today (August 13, 2025): Important Amendments to Zoning, Alcohol and University Regulations Published

ANKARA - The Official Gazette dated August 13, 2025 and numbered 32985 published important regulations from various institutions, particularly the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Among the decisions that entered into force, there were a wide range of changes from zoning regulations to ethyl alcohol and methanol trade, from university education to the establishment of new research centers. Here are the noteworthy headlines of today's Official Gazette.

Planned Areas Zoning Regulation Amended: New Standards for the Disabled and Elderly

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has introduced new standards for zoning plans and construction. With these amendments, steps have been taken to improve the quality of life, especially for the elderly and disabled. With the provisions added to the regulation, it has become mandatory to have handrails 80 cm high from the ground in the halls and corridors of elderly care institutions. In addition, building entrance doors will be marked with distinctive material, color or pattern differences for the elderly. Regulations for the disabled were also expanded and the phrase "and the elderly" was added after the phrase "with the disabled". Door widths have also been rearranged and the net width of the building entrance doors will not be less than 1.50 meters, 1.00 meters for independent section entrance doors, and 0.90 meters for the doors of other spaces.

Day Care Center and Family Health Center Obligation in Housing Projects

The regulation also requires large housing projects to include new social facilities. In housing projects of more than 15,000 m² and more than 150 independent units, a detached day care center with a maximum area of 200 m² must be allocated to serve children aged 0-66 months. Similarly, in housing projects of more than 25,000 m² and more than 250 independent units, it is mandatory to allocate a family health center area. While certain square meters are determined for these facilities, these requirements may not be applied in mass housing built by public institutions and organizations.

New Rules for Ethyl Alcohol and Methanol Trade

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has updated the procedures and principles regarding the production, domestic and foreign trade of ethyl alcohol and methanol. The new regulation sets new rules for the packaging, distribution and sale of ethyl alcohol for medical use. These alcohols will be packaged in 5-liter, matte black plastic containers for health institutions such as pharmacies and hospitals, and will be required to have a QR code on their labels. Pharmaceutical warehouses and pharmaceutical trading houses wishing to obtain a wholesale certificate must have been in business for at least three years. In addition, it has become mandatory to display the phrase "METHANOL CANNOT BE DRUNKED, IT KILLS" on tanks, packaging and containers where methanol is stored in bulk.

New Regulations in Force at Universities

The Official Gazette also included important decisions regarding universities. Addiction Application and Research Center was established within Bursa Uludağ University. The aim of the center was determined as raising public awareness about the fight against addiction, conducting scientific research and organizing trainings. In addition, Istanbul Medeniyet University Undergraduate Education and Examination Regulation also entered into force. This regulation regulates subjects such as courses, exams and grading in undergraduate programs.

Publicity Section

In the announcement section of the newspaper, various auction, auction and tender announcements were published. In addition, the exchange rates determined by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey and the daily values of government domestic debt securities were also published. Decisions banning some companies from participating in tenders were among the other announcements in the Official Gazette.