Preparing for a Restaurant and Cafe Inspection in Türkiye: 2026 Checklist
Food and drink businesses in Türkiye are subject to two separate lines of inspection: prices and consumer rights are handled by the provincial directorates of the Ticaret Bakanlığı (Ministry of Trade), and food safety by the food inspectors of the Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry). The municipal police (zabıta) also carry out separate inspections of the business licence and general order.
The checklist in this guide covers the items actually asked about in inspections following the 2025-2026 regulatory changes. As you tick the list, it is saved in your browser; use it as a quick self-check round before an inspection.
Who inspects what?
- Provincial directorate of trade: price list, labels, QR-code notice, service/cover ban, consistency between bill and list.
- Provincial/district directorate of agriculture and forestry (food inspector): business registration/approval certificate, hygiene, storage, allergen and menu content disclosure, staff hygiene training.
- Municipality (zabıta/licensing): business opening and operating licence, signage, capacity, general order.
The inspection that comes before the inspector
Complaint-driven inspections outnumber routine ones. The trigger is usually a single customer complaint: a surprise item on the bill, a QR code that does not open, an allergen question left unanswered. A venue that passes the list below also lowers the likelihood of generating complaints.
Interactive inspection preparation checklist
0/16Frequently asked questions
Which authority inspects restaurants?
Prices and consumer rights are inspected by the provincial directorates of the Ministry of Trade, food safety and allergens by the food inspectors of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and licensing and general order by the municipality.
What are the most common grounds for fines in inspections?
On the pricing side, inconsistencies between list and bill, outdated lists and banned service/cover items; on the food side, hygiene, a missing registration certificate and gaps in allergen disclosure stand out.
Do inspectors accept a QR menu?
Yes; the QR code is a method recognised by the regulations for presenting price lists and menu content information. Conditions: the mandatory notice must be posted and an alternative must be available for customers who cannot use the QR code.
Official sources
- Ministry of Trade — Announcement of the amendment to the Price Tag Regulation (in Turkish)
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry — Allergen Disclosure at Mass Catering Venues (in Turkish)
This guide is for information purposes and does not replace legal advice. Published: August 18, 2026 · Last updated: August 18, 2026
Genu takes care of the digital half of the list
An up-to-date price list, QR-code presentation, allergen and calorie fields, bill consistency — all of these items are managed from a single panel in Genu. Before an inspection, all that is left for you is to check the physical side.