Cleaning activities in facilities that are members of KTTD are carried out in accordance with national and global standards.

The Tanker Cleaning Certificate is a document issued for cleaned tanker-type vehicles (tankers, tank containers, ISO containers).

It is an official document certifying that tanker-type vehicles transporting chemical and food products, whether via road or combined transport, have been cleaned in accordance with established procedures.

A cleaning facility wishing to issue Tanker Cleaning Certificates must hold a Temporary Operation Certificate (GFB) or an Environmental Permit and License issued by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and must be a member of the Association of Chemical Transport Vehicle Cleaners (KTTD).

In accordance with the Communiqué on Tanker Cleaning Facilities, the Tanker Cleaning Certificate is issued in four copies: the first copy remains at the cleaning facility; the second is sent to the Ministry or the organization authorized by the Ministry (KTTD); the third is given to the transport company; and the fourth is given or sent to the loading/filling facility.

Transport companies must verify the existence and content of the Tanker Cleaning Certificate before taking delivery of the cleaned vehicle/equipment, and loading/filling facilities must do the same before loading a new product.

The Transport Container Cleaning Certificate / Label is a document or label indicating that transport containers used for chemicals and food products have been cleaned.

In accordance with the Communiqué on Tanker Cleaning Facilities, transport containers include IBC tanks, plastic drums, and plastic canisters; metal drums fall outside the scope of the Communiqué.

To issue the Transport Container Cleaning Certificate/Label, a cleaning facility must hold a Temporary Operation Certificate (GFB) or an Environmental Permit and License issued by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and must be a member of the Association of Chemical Transport Vehicle Cleaners (KTTD).

Transport companies must verify the existence and content of the Transport Container Cleaning Certificate/Label before taking delivery of the cleaned vehicle or equipment, and loading/filling facilities must do the same before loading a new product.

The ECD (European Cleaning Document) was developed by the European Federation of Tank Cleaning Organisations (EFTCO); it is an international tracking document that officially certifies that tankers, containers, and silos transporting chemical and food products have been cleaned in a safe, standardized, and hygienic manner.

For a cleaning facility operating within Turkey to issue the ECD, it must first successfully complete the SQAS (Sustainability and Safety Assessment) audit established by the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) and be a licensed cleaning facility holding membership in the national cleaning association, KTTD (Association of Chemical Transport Vehicle Cleaners).

The ECD issued by the cleaning station is shared with supply chain stakeholders, including logistics and transport companies (drivers), as well as manufacturers and loading facilities.

Transport companies must verify the existence and content of the ECD before taking delivery of the cleaned vehicle or equipment, and loading/filling facilities must do the same before loading a new product.

SQAS (Safety & Quality Assessment for Sustainability) is a system that impartially evaluates the quality, safety, occupational health, environmental, and sustainability performance of companies providing chemical logistics and distribution services.

Developed by CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council), this assessment is not a traditional certification process; rather, it is a detailed audit and reporting process that helps companies manage their operational risks.

The SQAS assessment process is a continuous improvement cycle consisting of specific steps and is generally repeated every three years:

• Pre-Assessment Document (PAD): A preliminary form containing basic facility and operational information is completed by the company prior to the audit.
• Questionnaire: The official SQAS questionnaire tailored to the company's field of activity (transport, warehousing, tank cleaning, etc.) serves as the basis.
• On-site Assessment: An independent, accredited assessor inspects facilities and field operations on-site, auditing practices against established standards.
• Reporting: The detailed assessment report prepared following the audit is uploaded to a centralized SQAS database accessible to chemical companies and authorized logistics providers.
• Improvement Plan: Based on the results, a corrective and improvement action plan is developed to address the company's areas for improvement.

The legal basis for cleaning facilities is established by the Communiqué on Tanker Cleaning Facilities.

Primary Objective of the Communiqué: To define the requirements for the treatment and disposal within the framework of relevant legislation of waste and wastewater generated from the cleaning of tanker-type vehicles (tankers, tank containers, ISO containers) and transport vessels (IBC tanks, plastic drums, and canisters) that carry chemicals and hazardous substances; and to specify the minimum conditions required for cleaning facilities providing such services, as well as the fundamental obligations these facilities must fulfill.

Natural or legal persons wishing to establish and operate a cleaning facility are required to obtain an Environmental Permit and License Certificate (previously a Temporary Operation Certificate/GFB) from the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.

Upon completion of the cleaning process, it is mandatory in accordance with regulations to issue a Tanker Cleaning Certificate if the cleaned equipment is a tanker-type vehicle, or a Cleaning Label if it is a transport container.

The document or label in question serves as official proof that the tanker-type vehicle or transport container is ready to safely accept its next load and that any chemical residues from previously transported products have been disposed of by the cleaning facility using methods compliant with environmental regulations.

Cleaning facilities play a vital role in environmental protection and industrial sustainability by preventing the release of hazardous chemicals, waste, and emissions, generated during industrial logistics processes into the natural environment.

Sanctions are imposed in accordance with Environmental Law No. 2872 on facilities that operate in non-compliance with regulations.