About the Interview

One of our co-founders, Mehmet Yolcu, gave an exclusive interview to Turkchem magazine, a publication that closely follows the pulse of the chemical industry. The interview covers regulatory changes in the chemical sector and Chemleg’s strategic approach in these areas. It also touches on the company’s founding process, the consultancy services offered, software solutions developed to meet sector-specific needs, and training programs—all of which illustrate how Chemleg proactively ensures compliance with regulations in the global markets.

Interview Text

You can find the full interview below:

We’d like to get to know you better. Could you tell us about your educational background and professional career?
I was born in Istanbul in 1987. After graduating from the Chemistry Department of Kocaeli University, I completed my master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety at Marmara University. Since 2013, I’ve been working in the field of chemical regulations and product safety processes. During this time, I’ve taken an active role in project management, technical dossier preparation, and strategic compliance processes under both national and EU legislation for many local and international chemical companies. I brought this experience into a more corporate structure by co-founding Chemleg Consultancy and Chemleg Europe B.V. In addition, through our software startup Melgosoft, we offer technology-based services tailored to the chemical industry.

Chemleg was founded by a team with extensive experience in R&D, quality control, and regulatory consultancy. Can you tell us how Chemleg was established and how it has evolved?
Chemleg was founded in 2017 under the leadership of our General Manager, Elif Koç, with a focus on women entrepreneurship. Alongside my co-founder Gökhan Ardıç, we laid solid foundations for the company using our sectoral experience in REACH, biocidal products, SDS preparation, R&D, quality control, and EHS. In the early stages, only the founding partners were actively involved in the company. However, as our client base rapidly expanded, we grew our expert team. Thanks to our emphasis on digital technologies, continuous training, and close monitoring of regulations, Chemleg has established a strong presence in both the Turkish and European markets.

The chemical industry is constantly evolving and subject to frequently updated national and international regulations. How does Chemleg ensure that your team and clients keep pace with these changes?
At Chemleg, we’re fully aware of the dynamic nature of chemical regulations. We provide our team with regular training, up-to-date technical content, and case studies to keep their knowledge current. For our clients, we offer sectoral bulletins, early warning systems, and one-on-one technical guidance. Through our Melgosoft software infrastructure, we also digitalize compliance processes such as regulation tracking, KKDIK registrations, data management, SDS and PCN handling. As a result, our clients not only stay compliant with regulations but also manage these processes strategically.

You offer a wide range of services, from KKDIK compliance to biocidal product risk assessments and technical translations. Which of these services is currently in highest demand, and why?
Recently, we’ve seen the highest demand for SDS compliance work, PCN notifications, and compliance services related to the Biocidal Regulation. In the second half of the year, we expect this demand to shift toward KKDIK services. This is because the anticipated "Procedures and Principles" regulation related to the KKDIK registration process has not yet come into force. Once published, we foresee a highly intensive period for KKDIK compliance services—especially through to the end of 2026. The cyclical nature of demand for regulatory services is mainly driven by implementation timelines and transition periods. The industry's efforts to keep up with ever-changing legislation cause these fluctuations.

Since compliance services are process-based, even within the same regulation, the focus can vary over time. For example, the first phase of the KKDIK Regulation (2018–2020) was marked by only representative appointments, pre-MBDF notifications, inventory work, information sharing, and training. In the 2021–2023 period, the focus shifted to identifying lead registrants, preparing lead dossiers, and submitting a limited number of member dossiers. During the phased registration period lasting until 2030, we expect a focus on selecting lead registrants for substances that don’t yet have one, preparing lead dossiers, determining data-sharing fees, and completing member registrations.

Chemleg emphasizes fast, reliable, and high-quality consultancy. Could you share a recent example where your team’s expertise in complex chemical regulations made a significant difference for a client?
A recent example comes to mind. A client who had previously worked with another consultancy approached us after having completed KKDIK registration and pre-registration as an importer. However, this step had been taken without analysing the company’s operational model and structure in Türkiye—resulting in a strategic misstep. Once Chemleg became involved, we conducted a detailed assessment of the client’s business cycle and presented a comparative analysis of various role scenarios. Based on this evaluation, it was determined that continuing the registration process under an only representative role was both more cost-effective and more sustainable in the long term. Thanks to this guidance, the company was able to build a much more robust KKDIK registration strategy, both for its Turkish customers and its own legal entity.

Among your industry support efforts, training and information dissemination stand out. What are the most common knowledge gaps you encounter among chemical professionals, and how do your training programs address them?
Staying up to date in the field of chemical regulation compliance is a major challenge. As regulations differ significantly by country and region, continuous training and regular follow-up are essential. Here, the contributions of our trainer Haydar Hazer—who has been with Chemleg since 2019 and is known in the industry for his deep knowledge of REACH and CLP—are invaluable. Particularly with our KDU training and other tailored programs, we analyse the companies' fields of activity and shortcomings to develop highly specific training content. We've observed that customized training based on the experience level of participants and the company’s needs is much more effective in addressing knowledge gaps.

However, the root cause of these gaps is not just regulatory complexity—organizational structures also play a role. Unfortunately, many professionals in chemical legislation are forced to manage these responsibilities as an “additional duty” alongside their primary roles. In contrast, companies in EU member states with high regulatory burdens often have dedicated compliance or REACH departments, with personnel specializing in specific aspects of even a single regulation.

In Türkiye, such specialized structures are very rare. When regulatory compliance is managed as a secondary task, achieving error-free and effective compliance becomes much harder. That’s why it's vital not only to offer training but also for managers to recognize the complexity of these processes and establish structures that support the development of dedicated experts.

Given your expertise in SDS, technical documentation, and product notifications, what are the most common mistakes companies make in compliance processes? How do you help them avoid these mistakes?
The most common mistakes companies make involve underestimating the importance of proper time and budget planning. Compliance with chemical legislation is a time-consuming, multi-step process. It involves contract preparations, budgeting, technical work, and authority reviews. Yet companies often start too late, compressing actions into the final deadlines. This leads to insufficient time and budget allocation, resulting in failed or delayed compliance.

These delays can place companies at a commercial disadvantage. Also, under deadline pressure, companies often rush into consultancy decisions without proper evaluation. At Chemleg, we proactively guide our clients to avoid such pitfalls. We share the estimated timelines and steps of the processes in advance, allowing companies to act early. Additionally, we support the development of in-house expertise so that our clients can better understand these processes and communicate effectively with consultants.

What upcoming regulatory trends or challenges do you foresee in Türkiye and Europe that will impact the chemical sector? How is Chemleg preparing your clients for these changes?
In Türkiye, we anticipate that the most impactful upcoming regulation for the chemical sector will be the KKDIK Regulation. With the end of the phased registration period set for the end of 2026, there is very little time left. However, the Chemical Registration System (KKS) remains closed. Although registration dossiers have been ready for about 17 months, they still cannot be submitted due to this closure. Once the “Procedures and Principles” are published, it appears that the initial registration period—which was supposed to take three years—will be squeezed into roughly 1.5 years. This points to a highly intensive period for both companies and consultants.

In Europe, major changes to the CLP Regulation and steps toward digitalization are on the horizon. Under REACH, many existing dossiers are being called for updates, and inspection processes are accelerating. Efforts to bring polymers under the scope of REACH registration also remain a critical issue for the industry.

To help our clients adapt effectively to EU legislation, we founded Chemleg Europe B.V. in the Netherlands. Our co-founder Gökhan Ardıç relocated to the Netherlands to serve as General Manager of Chemleg Europe. This allows us to monitor European regulations on the ground and inform our clients in advance—offering them a competitive edge.

You can click here to visit the Chemleg Europe website or contact our experts for more information and support.