Turkey has banned the sale of breast milk in retail and online platforms due to serious health risks, imposing hefty fines on individuals and digital platforms that violate the rule, DHA reported on Tuesday, citing the Trade Ministry.
The ministry said in a written statement posted on X that breast milk, while essential for infant development, is influenced by various personal factors such as the donor’s health, nutrition and medical history. It added that improper collection, storage and transportation conditions pose serious risks to infant health and could endanger public safety.
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The decision to ban the sale of breast milk follows an increase in reports of breast milk being sold on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. In response the ministry has moved to prohibit its trade both in physical markets and online.
The ban also covers any content promoting the buying or selling of breast milk, including advertisements, listings and online forum discussions. Digital platforms that facilitate such transactions are also subject to penalties.
Under Turkey’s electronic and retail trade laws, violators may face administrative fines of up to TL 684,214 ($17,500) per breach, the ministry warned, noting the importance of compliance.
Religious scholars have also voiced concern from an Islamic perspective, warning that the sale or donation of breast milk without proper documentation could violate religious principles. In Islam, breastfeeding creates a form of kinship that can prohibit future marriage between individuals. Without records of who receives the milk, scholars say, such transactions may unknowingly lead to marriages between milk siblings, something strictly forbidden under Islamic law.
These religious sensitivities are not unique to Turkey. In many Muslim-majority countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, similar concerns about milk kinship have led to restrictive approaches toward informal breast milk trade. While donation is sometimes permitted under strict documentation, unregulated exchanges are often discouraged or banned outright to preserve religious and familial boundaries.
In contrast, several European countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany permit breast milk donation through tightly regulated milk banks, which screen donors for infectious diseases and ensure safe collection and storage. Informal online sales, however, are generally prohibited due to serious health and safety risks, concerns also raised by Turkish authorities.