EU Commission Audits Highlight Challenges in Turkey’s Dairy and Shellfish Export Controls
Source: The DairyNews
The European Commission’s health and safety unit, DG Sante, has released two critical audit reports on Turkey’s dairy and shellfish sectors, revealing both progress and ongoing challenges in meeting EU export standards.
Dairy Sector Audit
The audit of Turkey's dairy sector, conducted in September 2023, focused on the country's compliance with EU requirements for exporting dairy products, particularly those requiring risk-mitigating treatments against foot and mouth disease (FMD). Turkey has seen a notable increase in its dairy exports to the EU, with volumes rising from 2,400 tons in 2021 to 6,398 tons in 2022.
While the audit was largely positive, it identified several areas requiring improvement. Notably, two establishments storing and trading EU-eligible dairy products were not listed as EU-certified cold stores. Turkish authorities have committed to addressing this discrepancy, acknowledging that any storage facility for dairy products destined for the EU must obtain EU approval.
Additional findings highlighted the need for more rigorous microbial testing. Some establishments did not include drains in their Listeria sampling plans, and in certain cases, the number of product samples tested was insufficient. Furthermore, product labels occasionally failed to properly highlight allergens in English, which is a key requirement for EU markets.
Despite these issues, the audit reported no detection of pathogens or staphylococcal enterotoxins in the 1,109 dairy samples tested between 2020 and 2022. However, one incident involved the issuance of an EU export certificate for a consignment produced from non-EU eligible raw milk, leading to the suspension of the site from EU exports and the initiation of corrective measures by Turkish authorities.
The report also pointed out that certifying officials in Turkey may not always be fully aware of the conditions in EU-listed establishments they certify. To address this, Turkish authorities plan to enhance training for official veterinarians and ensure their active participation in routine inspections, thereby improving the certification process for dairy exports to the EU.
Shellfish Sector Follow-up Audit
The follow-up audit of Turkey’s bivalve mollusk sector, conducted in May and June 2023, reviewed progress since a previous audit in 2021. Turkey is currently permitted to export only frozen and processed bivalve mollusks to the EU, with live exports still prohibited. The 2023 audit primarily focused on one critical recommendation from the 2021 audit, which remains unresolved.
Turkey exported 6,100 tons of frozen and processed bivalve mollusks and 142 tons of sea urchins to the EU in 2022. The audit found that while Turkish authorities have made significant strides in addressing some non-compliance issues, the control system remains largely reactive. Major weaknesses persist, particularly in the identification of critical non-compliances related to food safety and the implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems.
As a result, certain establishments approved for export to the EU continue to exhibit structural and processing deficiencies that pose food safety risks. DG Sante’s auditors concluded that the Turkish control system still does not provide the necessary guarantees for compliance with EU standards, particularly for bivalve mollusks. Consequently, the primary recommendation from the 2021 audit remains unresolved, with restrictions on live bivalve mollusk exports to the EU extended until at least December 2026.
Conclusion
These audits underscore the complexities and challenges Turkey faces in aligning its dairy and shellfish export controls with stringent EU requirements. While progress has been made, particularly in the dairy sector, significant work remains to ensure full compliance and to mitigate risks associated with food safety. The European Commission's continued scrutiny and Turkey's responsive measures will be crucial in maintaining and potentially expanding market access to the EU for these critical export sectors.
The audit of Turkey's dairy sector, conducted in September 2023, focused on the country's compliance with EU requirements for exporting dairy products, particularly those requiring risk-mitigating treatments against foot and mouth disease (FMD). Turkey has seen a notable increase in its dairy exports to the EU, with volumes rising from 2,400 tons in 2021 to 6,398 tons in 2022.
While the audit was largely positive, it identified several areas requiring improvement. Notably, two establishments storing and trading EU-eligible dairy products were not listed as EU-certified cold stores. Turkish authorities have committed to addressing this discrepancy, acknowledging that any storage facility for dairy products destined for the EU must obtain EU approval.
Additional findings highlighted the need for more rigorous microbial testing. Some establishments did not include drains in their Listeria sampling plans, and in certain cases, the number of product samples tested was insufficient. Furthermore, product labels occasionally failed to properly highlight allergens in English, which is a key requirement for EU markets.
Despite these issues, the audit reported no detection of pathogens or staphylococcal enterotoxins in the 1,109 dairy samples tested between 2020 and 2022. However, one incident involved the issuance of an EU export certificate for a consignment produced from non-EU eligible raw milk, leading to the suspension of the site from EU exports and the initiation of corrective measures by Turkish authorities.
The report also pointed out that certifying officials in Turkey may not always be fully aware of the conditions in EU-listed establishments they certify. To address this, Turkish authorities plan to enhance training for official veterinarians and ensure their active participation in routine inspections, thereby improving the certification process for dairy exports to the EU.
Shellfish Sector Follow-up Audit
The follow-up audit of Turkey’s bivalve mollusk sector, conducted in May and June 2023, reviewed progress since a previous audit in 2021. Turkey is currently permitted to export only frozen and processed bivalve mollusks to the EU, with live exports still prohibited. The 2023 audit primarily focused on one critical recommendation from the 2021 audit, which remains unresolved.
Turkey exported 6,100 tons of frozen and processed bivalve mollusks and 142 tons of sea urchins to the EU in 2022. The audit found that while Turkish authorities have made significant strides in addressing some non-compliance issues, the control system remains largely reactive. Major weaknesses persist, particularly in the identification of critical non-compliances related to food safety and the implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems.
As a result, certain establishments approved for export to the EU continue to exhibit structural and processing deficiencies that pose food safety risks. DG Sante’s auditors concluded that the Turkish control system still does not provide the necessary guarantees for compliance with EU standards, particularly for bivalve mollusks. Consequently, the primary recommendation from the 2021 audit remains unresolved, with restrictions on live bivalve mollusk exports to the EU extended until at least December 2026.
Conclusion
These audits underscore the complexities and challenges Turkey faces in aligning its dairy and shellfish export controls with stringent EU requirements. While progress has been made, particularly in the dairy sector, significant work remains to ensure full compliance and to mitigate risks associated with food safety. The European Commission's continued scrutiny and Turkey's responsive measures will be crucial in maintaining and potentially expanding market access to the EU for these critical export sectors.
