Food Import and Agricultural Products Logistics: A Guide for Small Importers

Food imports can look complicated at first: documents, laboratory checks, labelling rules and temperature-controlled transport all come into play at once. The good news is that the process runs step by step, and starting with a small shipment is the safest way to learn it. This page walks you through what to watch for when importing food and agricultural products into Turkey, from sourcing to customs.

Where food imports usually come from

The origin depends heavily on the product. Spices, tea, rice and some nuts often come from India, Vietnam and other South and Southeast Asian countries; vegetable oils, pasta, cheese and deli products from EU countries such as Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany; and specialty and packaged snacks from the Far East.

Shelf life decides the transport mode:

Dry and packaged food (pulses, spices, pasta, canned goods): Sea freight is the most economical option. If your first order cannot fill a container, start with LCL, meaning a shared container. See our guide FCL or LCL? for details.
Chilled and frozen products (dairy, meat, seafood, some fruit): You need a reefer, i.e. a refrigerated container, or a refrigerated truck.
Small loads from Europe: Groupage road freight brings goods to your door within days. Options are on our road freight page.
Short shelf-life items or samples: Air freight is fast but costly per kilo, so it is mostly used for samples and high-value products.

Your first import, step by step

Pin down the product and its HS code. The Turkish tariff code (GTİP) determines which checks apply, the duty rate and the documents required. Do this together with your customs broker.
Complete your Ministry registrations. For food of plant origin, the importer, producer and exporter are registered in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Food Safety Information System (GGBS). If you will store or sell the goods, check with the provincial directorate whether you also need a food business registration or approval.
Ask the supplier for documents early. A phytosanitary certificate for plant products, an official veterinary health certificate for animal products, plus an ingredients declaration and analysis reports should all be agreed before you place the order.
File the prior notification and control certificate. The Ministry is notified before the goods arrive; for animal products, do not ship before the control certificate is issued.
Prepare the label. Products sold directly to consumers must carry a Turkish label. Have your supplier approve the label text before production.
Set transport and temperature terms. Write the container type, temperature setting and delivery terms (the Incoterms rule) into the contract. Our Incoterms tool can help.
Official controls and clearance on arrival. Once document checks, physical checks and any sample analysis are complete, the Ministry sends its approval to customs and the goods are released into free circulation.

Regulations and permits

Most food import controls in Turkey are run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. As of October 2026, the main framework is the Communiqué on Import Controls of Products Subject to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Product Safety and Inspection: 2026/5), in force since 1 January 2026. For listed products, the Ministry issues a conformity document that reaches customs through the Single Window System.

Food of plant origin

For plant-based food the process runs through GGBS: you first file a product notification, then notify each shipment separately and get an official inspection appointment. Controls include a document check, an identity check to confirm the goods match the paperwork and, where required, sampling for laboratory analysis. Some products are also subject to plant health (quarantine) controls. Ministry fees apply at each stage; check the current amounts with the provincial directorate.

Food of animal origin

Meat, dairy, honey, eggs and seafood are subject to veterinary controls. A control certificate is obtained through the Ministry’s electronic system before import, a prior notification is filed before entry, and inspections take place at veterinary border control points. The original official veterinary health certificate must accompany the goods. Before ordering, confirm that the exporting country and plant are eligible to export to Turkey.

Labelling and commercial quality

The Turkish Food Codex labelling rules set out mandatory items such as product name, ingredients, allergens, net quantity, date of minimum durability or use-by date, and importer details. Products used as industrial raw materials do not need a Turkish label, but the packaging must still identify the product clearly. Some fresh fruit and vegetables may also be subject to the Ministry of Trade’s commercial quality inspection. Confirm the rules for your product with your customs broker and the provincial directorate.

Duty rates, additional financial liabilities and quotas vary by product and origin. Calculate current rates with your customs broker before ordering.

Transport and packaging tips

Never break the cold chain. Temperature, ventilation and humidity settings in a reefer depend on the product. Read more in our guide to cold chain logistics and reefer containers.
Plan around shelf life. Transit time, waiting at customs and analysis time add up, and the product still needs enough shelf life left to sell. Choose route and mode accordingly.
Protect against moisture. Container condensation can cause mould and pests in dry food. Desiccants and keeping pallets off the floor reduce the risk.
Check pallets and wooden packaging. Wooden pallets must be treated and stamped under the international ISPM 15 standard.
Avoid mixed loading. Keep odour-sensitive goods (tea, coffee, flour) away from chemicals or strong-smelling cargo.

You can compare equipment on our container types page.

Common mistakes

Asking for the health or phytosanitary certificate after loading. A wrong or missing certificate means waiting time and extra cost at customs.
Thinking about the Turkish label only after the goods arrive. Label issues delay the product reaching the shelf.
Not planning for analysis time. Sampled goods wait in the bonded warehouse until results come back, and that means storage costs.
Not stating the reefer temperature clearly in the contract and on the bill of lading.
Product descriptions that differ between the proforma invoice, the label and the certificates. Every mismatch slows the inspection down.

Food exports from Turkey

Turkey is among the world’s leading producers of hazelnuts, cherries, figs, apricots and quinces, and dried fruit, nuts, pasta and flour are important export items. For exports to the EU, products of animal origin need an approved establishment and an official health certificate, while some plant products can be subject to increased border checks for risks such as aflatoxin. That list is updated regularly; for example, an early-2026 update raised the check frequency for Turkish pistachios. Checking the target market’s current rules with your buyer should be the first step of any export plan.

How Medius helps in this sector

As a boutique forwarder, we plan your first food import with you step by step:

Sea freight for dry food (FCL and LCL), plus reefer containers and refrigerated trucks.
Groupage and full-truck road freight from Europe, and air freight for urgent shipments and samples.
Customs clearance coordinated with your customs broker, with a document checklist.
A review of cargo insurance options for perishable goods.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start importing food with a small shipment?

Yes. For dry food you can share a container via LCL, and from Europe you can use groupage road freight. However, the Ministry’s notification and control steps apply regardless of shipment size.

Is a control certificate required for every food product?

No, it depends on the product type and its tariff code. A control certificate is generally required for animal products, while plant products go through prior notification and shipment notification in GGBS. Check your product with your customs broker.

Can I apply the Turkish label after arrival in Turkey?

In practice the Turkish label is usually prepared before shipment and is expected to be on the product at the official inspection. The safest approach is to confirm when and how the label should be applied with the provincial directorate beforehand.

Does the same process apply to samples?

Non-commercial samples follow a separate, simpler procedure with quantity limits. Ask the Ministry’s provincial directorate for the current limits and fees.

If you are planning your first food import, share your product, origin and estimated volume and we will choose the right transport option together. Just fill in our quote form.