Major danger averted at the last minute! Many harmful organisms detected inside: Turned back at the Turkish border

The General Directorate of Food and Control, affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, announced that certain agricultural and forestry products intended for import into Turkey were found to be risky during inspections at border crossings. All products in which harmful organisms posing a serious threat to plant health were detected were returned to the countries from which they originated.

In the official statement, it was emphasized that products violating plant health regulations would strictly not be permitted to enter Turkey.

A shipment of 19,510 kilograms of raw cotton originating from the USA, brought to the Port of İskenderun, was not allowed into Turkey on the grounds that it contained seed residues during physical inspection. The cotton, which was determined not to comply with plant health regulations, was returned to its country of origin.

In an examination of a total of 611 ornamental plants originating from Italy that were attempted to be brought into the country through the Edirne border crossing, the harmful organisms named "Arecastrum romanzoffianum" and "Chamaerops humilis" were detected.

Stating that these organisms pose a risk to Turkey's flora, the import process was canceled and the products were sent back.

A shipment of 78.08 cubic meters of timber originating from Belarus, inspected at the Ardahan border crossing, was denied entry into Turkey on the grounds that it carried a harmful organism named "Monochamus spp." It was assessed that the detected pest could pose a threat to forest assets, and the product was returned to its source.

Meanwhile, 20,160 kilograms of fresh apples originating from Poland, brought via Edirne, were not allowed into Turkey because the pest risk analysis had not yet been concluded. The import process for the apples was halted due to the suspicion that they could pose a risk, and they were returned to their country of origin.