Turkey Proposes New Plant Quarantine Regulations for Imports and Exports

On May 28, 2024, the Turkish Food Safety and Control Authority issued Notification No. 568, proposing new plant quarantine regulations for imports, exports, and transit goods.

The key elements of the proposed regulations include:

• Scope: The regulations will cover plants and plant products, including plant-based foods, industrial raw materials of plant origin, wood, herbs, and propagating materials, that are imported, exported, or in transit.
• Requirements: Importers and exporters will need to declare and submit plant and plant products for official quarantine procedures. This includes sampling, analysis, and issuance of phytosanitary certificates for export shipments.
• Registration and Approval: Importers will need to register and obtain approval for foreign production facilities of plant-based products. Phytosanitary certificates for imports will be reviewed and verified.
• Non-compliance: The regulations outline actions to be taken for non-compliant plant and plant products, including disposals and penalties.

The draft regulations also specify a list of products that will require accompanying phytosanitary certificates from the country of origin upon import, such as fresh, chilled or frozen vegetables, nuts with or without shells, hops, ground or unground plant-based spices, green coffee beans, and cocoa beans.

The public feedback period for the draft regulations ends on June 28, 2024. Companies and stakeholders in the agricultural and food trade sectors are encouraged to review the proposed rules and provide their input.