A letter from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Food and Control stated:

• Due to the recent frost and adverse weather conditions in our country, the production of cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, etc. Sectoral requests for the import and/or subsequent export of products from various countries are submitted to the Ministry.
• In accordance with Article 26 of Law No. 5996 on Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food, and Feed, risk analysis is mandatory in food and phytosanitary procedures.
• Article 7 of the Plant Quarantine Regulation, prepared based on the same Law, stipulates that a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) may be conducted in accordance with international standards for the import of products covered by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to our country if the initial import or phytosanitary conditions change.
• Phytosanitary measures are implemented for the import of plant products that are hosts of these pests from countries where the presence of harmful organisms is unknown in our country or that could cause serious losses in commercially important products produced for export.
• In this context, recently, Xylella Various restrictions and phytosanitary measures are implemented on imports from countries such as Egypt, Israel, and Iran due to the presence of harmful organisms such as fastidiosa, Candidatus Liberibacter spp., Diaphorina citri, Aulacaspis tubercularis, Dysmicoccus neobrevipes, and Milviscutulus mangiferae.
• Turkey ranks first in global cherry production, cherries are one of our most important export products, and there are ongoing ZRA and project studies for exports to many countries.
• The products intended for import to our country, such as cherries, almonds, plums, apricots, peaches, and nectarines, have not been imported from the countries where they are produced before, or even if they have been imported before, phytosanitary conditions have changed. Within the scope of the Regulation, imports of these products from countries where a positive ZRA study has not been conducted to prevent the contamination and spread of harmful organisms in our country are not considered appropriate.
• Plum pox potyvirus (PPV), one of the most important pests of produce, causes quality and quantity losses in produce. There are reports that it can cause up to 100% damage in intense infections and that it is transmitted through the seeds of Prunus species. Therefore, before importing products such as cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, and nectarines, it is mandatory to initiate a ZRA process with the exporting country. The Ministry must assess these products in terms of phytosanitary and quarantine risks in terms of harmful organisms present in the sending country.
• Import permits for these products will not be granted until the ZRA studies are completed. Therefore, companies should request a ZRA before entering into commercial connections.