Turkey Withdraws Controversial Kebab Regulation Proposal in Europe

Tue Oct 14 2025 05:58:19 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a decision that underscores the ongoing cultural and culinary clash over the doner kebab, Turkey has abandoned its bid to impose strict ingredient regulations on kebab shops across the EU, especially affecting Germany's vibrant doner industry.

Turkey's attempt to enforce a 'Traditional Speciality Guaranteed' label for doner kebabs in the EU has been withdrawn after objections arose, particularly from Germany, where the kebab has evolved into a unique cultural staple. The proposed guidelines would have restricted ingredients and cooking methods traditionally used in Germany, leading to significant backlash from the local kebab industry and government.

A Turkish attempt to force kebab shops in the EU to adhere to strict rules on how to make a doner kebab has been withdrawn.

If the bid for a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed label had succeeded, restrictions would have been imposed on the types of ingredients that could be used.

Germany's kebab industry would have particularly skewered, as the quintessential high street doner has evolved over the decades to be rather different than the original from Turkey.

Turkish authorities argued the doner should be viewed as a national dish that spread to Europe through the migration of Turks. But German officials said its take on the kebab had become part of its own national cuisine.

The traditional way of cooking meat on a vertical rotisserie goes back to the 16th Century, according to Turkey's International Doner Federation (Udofed), and the name doner is related to that cooking technique.

It asked the EU to impose uniform rules across the bloc requiring that:

the meat would come from a cow aged over 16 months, lamb aged at least six months, or chicken thighs and breasts
veal and turkey meat would be banned
meat would have to be sliced to a thickness of 3-5mm
the type of knife would be regulated and marinades would be subject to rules too

The German variant of a kebab often uses veal in a flatbread packed with vegetables including red cabbage, pickles, red onions, and topped with sauces - and so could be viewed as a European take on the Turkish classic.

The Turkish federation failed to consult Germany's kebab industry, which hit back with the support of the government in Berlin.

Former German Food and Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir stated that it was up to individuals to decide how a doner should be eaten in Germany, insisting, The doner belongs to Germany.\

If Udofed had followed through with its bid, the European industry dominated by the Turkish diaspora would have faced significant changes. In Germany alone, there are over 1.5 million Turkish citizens, contributing to an industry that produces about 400 tonnes of kebab a day, generating significant annual sales.

The Turkish federation formally withdrew its controversial bid on September 23 amid mounting objections, with attempts to find a compromise proving unsuccessful. An EU official indicated that the proposal was heading towards rejection regardless.