Light Barriers to Imports

Country Content Sections/Tabs

Country Content Sections/Tabs

Policy information

Policy information

Government Agency(s) / Competent Authority

Authorized Government Agency(s):

Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock
General Directorate Plant Production
Department of Good Agricultural Practices and Organic Farming

Agency(s) Contact Information:

Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock
Vildan Karaarslan, Department Director 
Department of Good Agricultural Practices and Organic Farming 
General Directorate of Crop Production 
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MinFAL) 
Eskisehir Yolu 9. Km. Lodumlu, Ankara, Turkey 
Phone: 0 312 258 83 14
Fax: 0 312 258 83 21 
Website

Organic Regulations and/or Standards

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

The Production, Processing and Marketing of Plant and Animal Products produced by Organic Farming Methods
Regulation on Principles and Application of Organic Agriculture; established 2002, amended 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012 (web site; in Turkish)
Law 5262: Organic Farming Law (2004) (.pdf; English)

Date of Implementation: 1994

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

Regulation covers all types of plant, animal and aquaculture production and organic farming according to the method used in the production or supply of inputs, yeasts used as food or feed, forests and natural areas as a collection of products in accordance with the principles of organic farming, the products processing, packaging, labeling, storage, transportation, marketing, control, certification, technical and administrative matters related to audit includes criminal provisions.

Imported Products

Imported organic products must be certified by a certifier registered with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. Organic products or inputs without the proper certificate cannot be imported as organic products or inputs. Should inspections and controls prove that any imported products and inputs are not organic, such products and inputs cannot be allowed in, distributed or sold as organic products or inputs. Such products or inputs are either returned to their sender or, if complying with the national legislation, are allowed for use within the country as non-organic products or inputs.

Imported products cannot use the Turkish organic logo, but they must have a label in Turkish which complies with the general labeling rules, including organic labeling.

Certification and Accreditation

Certification:

Certifying organizations must be registered with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock,  and have received a permit to conduct certifying activities in Turkey.

Accreditation Method:

Government

Accreditation:

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock

Additional Information

Reference Standards:

Turkish standards were set in accordance with EU standards. Comparison with EU regulations, 2003 (.pdf; English)

Additional Information:

USDA's GAIN Report Turkey Exporter Guide (2024)
USDA's GAIN Report Turkey Retail Food (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Turkey Food Processing Ingredients (2022)
USDA's GAIN Report Turkey Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Turkish Organic Market Overview (2016)
USDA's GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report (2022)
USDA's GAIN Report New Regulation Requires Registration for Exporters of Tree Nuts and Other Products to Turkey (2020)

Definitions

Definitions

Term

Definition

Health and Wellness

Health and wellness is the aggregation of organic packaged food and beverages, fortified/functional packaged food and beverages, naturally healthy packaged food and beverages, better for you packaged food and beverages and food intolerance products.

Organic packaged foods and beverages

This category includes packaged food & beverages that are certified organic by an approved certification body. Organic production is based on:

• A system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers.
• Organic food & beverages are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation.
• The use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organism) is prohibited. “Certified Organic” means the item has been grown according to strict uniform standards that are verified by independent state or private organizations.
• Depending on the country, such products are called ‘organic’, ‘biological’ or ‘ecological’: For organic products to be included under Euromonitor definitions, the organic aspect needs to form part of positioning/marketing of the product. This is an aggregation of organic baby food, bakery, confectionery, dairy, ice cream, oils and fats, ready meals, rice, sauces, dressings and condiments, snack bars, soups, spreads, sweet and savory snacks and other organic food.

Note that fresh food products or individual ingredients are not included in this definition.

Compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is the average annual growth rate over a specified period of time. For instance, the CAGR consumption of from 2018 – 2021 will be the average growth rates across these three years.

USDA GATS data clarification

The data presented in table 2.4 represents the dollar values of the top 5 organic commodities as well as of the total organic exports of the trade partner for the period 2018-2021 as per the United States Department of Agriculture’s Global Agricultural Trade System, a database consisting of international agricultural, fish, forest and textile products trade statistics dating from the inception of the Harmonized coding system in 1989 to present.
TR
Close

How to use this website

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) brings the US organic industry to developing markets around the world. This database is a comprehensive tool for OTA membership interested in participating in or expanding international trade in organic products by providing information to understand international markets for organic products. Select the country you wish to export to and find out whether it has an agreement with the United States, who its certifiers are, and much more.

Cover page

/sites/default/files/cover-page/cover-default-01-1.jpg