USDA - APHIS - Regulations and Assessments

International Animal Product Export Regulations

Notice

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these regulations for exporting animals or animal products to a foreign country, you should contact the APHIS-VS Area Office in the State from which the animals or products will be exported.

Animal Products to Turkey

Alert Regarding Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Content in Exported Products – December 2009 (pdf 43kb)

Turkey will not accept any version of the VS Form 16-4 that predates the "March 2004" version. The version number is visible in the lower left corner of the form.

The government of Turkey issues a "control certificate" to the importer of animal products for each lot of product shipped. While Turkey requires that the control certificate be issued by Turkey prior to product shipping from the United States, our understanding is that this requirement is not enforced. Therefore, it is highly recommended that exporters not ship product until the Turkish importer has obtained the control certificate. However, Veterinary Services will not require verification of the control certificate prior to issuing export certificates. Our understanding is that once the control certificate is issued, it is an indication that the products will be allowed to clear customs in Turkey, and could otherwise be subject to any new requirement(s) implemented by Turkey after the product was shipped. Turkey has confirmed that no US Government sanitary certificate is required prior to the issuance of the control certificate if the control certificate is issued prior to shipment. Our understanding is that in order to obtain the control certificate, Turkey requires the importer to agree that he or she will provide a valid health certificate.

Turkey has notified the USDA that export certificates must be issued within the 48 hours prior to shipment. We have not confirmed if Turkey uniformly enforces this requirement, and APHIS will not refuse to endorse certificates just because they are not presented within the 48 hours prior to shipping. However, exporters are strongly urged not to ship in cases where an export certificate has not been obtained within the 48 hours prior to shipment, because their shipments may be refused entry.

Important information regarding trade bans on poultry products - September 2010 (pdf 9kb)

Animal feed materials (non animal origin) - May 2009 (pdf 17kb)

Egg Products - October 2008 (pdf 20kb)

Fresh or chilled hides - July 2003 (pdf 152kb)

Gelatin and Gelatin Capsules (filled or unfilled) for animal consumption - July 2007 (pdf 13kb)

Gelatin and empty gelatin capsules for human consumption - July 2007 (pdf 29kb)

Gelatin - filled gelatin capsules for human consumption - July 2007 (pdf 29kb)

Human food - (items other than dairy or gelatin intended for human consumption) - October 2008 (pdf 10kb)

Milk and milk products - May 2004 (pdf 83kb)

Pet food (animal-origin) - March 2009 (pdf 64kb)

Poultry By-Product Meal - April 2009 (pdf 200kb)

Rendered meals (other than poultry by-product meal) - April 2009 (pdf 11kb)