Commerce Ministry Warns Exporters of Turkey's New Import Requirements for Dairy and Seafood Products

The Commerce Ministry is warning Thai exporters about new import steps Turkey has implemented for food products derived from animals. The Republic of Turkey has added additional import procedures for specific animal-derived food products to comply with EU food safety, animal feed, plant health, and animal breeding regulations, effective January 1, 2026. Arada Fuengthong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, revealed that Turkey's Directorate General of Food and Control will now require additional steps for importing dairy products, fish, seafood, gelatin, and collagen for consumption. Exporters must now be either EU member states registered in the TRACE NT system or approved by Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Thai operators interested in exporting these products must contact relevant Thai certification authorities like the Department of Fisheries to process documentation for approval. Trade statistics show that in 2025 (January-November), Thailand exported goods to Turkey worth 40,616.16 million baht, with dairy, fish, and seafood products accounting for 498.68 million baht (1.23% of total exports). Arada noted that these new import requirements may not significantly impact Thai exporters due to the small volume of current exports, but recommended close monitoring of regulations and export conditions.