Veterinary Inspections and Customs Procedures in Imports
As AB Customs Consultancy, we manage one of the most sensitive and technical inspection areas in import processes—veterinary inspections—with full compliance to regulations and operational precision. Live animals, animal products, and certain composite foods entering Turkey are subject to strict rules in line with public health and biosecurity measures. In this blog post, we will explore, in technical detail, the product groups subject to veterinary inspection, required documents and certificates, official customs procedures, and the consultancy services we offer at AB Customs.
Legal Basis for Veterinary Inspections
Veterinary inspections are not merely a customs formality—they are multifaceted processes affecting public health, animal welfare, and food safety. For this reason, procedures must comply with national legislation as well as align with EU directives.
Key legal foundations include:
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Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food and Feed Act No. 5996
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Regulation published in Official Gazette No. 28149 dated 21.12.2011
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EU Regulations 91/496/EEC, 97/78/EC, and 2007/275/EC
Animal Groups Subject to Inspection
Live animal imports are among the most sensitive categories in terms of animal and human health. Inspections at entry follow a risk-based system shaped by species, origin country, transport conditions, and international animal health norms. These go beyond mere document checks; they may include physical exams, transport vehicle inspections, and quarantines.
According to the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule HTS codes, live animals fall under specific chapters, each with dedicated inspection criteria. Zoonotic diseases, animal welfare, biosecurity, and epidemic risks guide these controls.
Main animal groups subject to veterinary inspection include:
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Horses, donkeys, mules, and hinnies (0101): Imported for sport, breeding, or transport; checked for carrier diseases and transport conditions.
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Cattle, sheep, and goats (0102, 0104): Inspected for TB, foot-and-mouth disease, brucellosis, etc.; pre-import quarantine may be required.
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Pigs (0103): Especially from non-EU countries; checked for African swine fever and other disease risks.
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Poultry (0105): Chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl; stringent controls for avian flu apply to live imports and hatching eggs.
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Exotic/wild animals (0106): Zebras, monkeys, tigers, parrots, snakes, sea lions, etc.; may be CITES-listed and subject to veterinary and environmental checks.
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Bees and insects (0106.41–49): Queen bees, genetic stock, research insects; inspected along with transport containers, colonies, and health certificates.
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Frogs and reptiles (0106.20, 0106.90): Imported for food or as pets; assessed for microbial risks.
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Bird species (raptors, parrots, others – 0106.31, 0106.32, 0106.39): Wild and ornamental birds inspected for avian flu, Newcastle disease, etc.
Each group requires origin approval, transport vehicle disinfection, health certificate, import permit, pre- and post-shipment process integrity.
Inspection of Meat, Offal, and Aquatic Products
Animal-based food products are among the most sensitive categories under veterinary inspections—especially meat, offal, and seafood intended for human consumption. Due to zoonotic disease risk, perishability, and production and processing chain factors, strict control applies. Inspection of these imports extends beyond origin country approval to include processing level, cold chain status, shipping duration, and documentation integrity. The intended use (human consumption, industrial use, animal feed) also affects the control level.
In the Customs Tariff Schedule, animal products under Chapters 2, 3, 4, 16, and 21 require veterinary inspection. Customs veterinary officers at border checkpoints may carry out physical examinations, take lab samples, and perform document reviews. Imports from non-EU countries also require the processing facility to be recognized by Turkish authorities beforehand.
Key product categories:
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Fresh, frozen, smoked, or brined meats of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and poultry (HTS 0201–0208, 0210).
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Offal and by‑products: Edible offal like liver, tongue, brain, intestines; also rendered fats—pork fat, poultry fat; and heat-treated or dried by‑products.
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Processed or semi‑processed meats: Salami, sausage, pastrami, ham (HTS 1601, 1602)—require ingredient declaration and processing certifications.
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Fish and seafood: Fresh, frozen, dried fish; shellfish like shrimp, lobster; mollusks such as mussels, octopus, squid (HTS 0301–0308).
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Gelatin and collagen: From animal by-products, used in food, pharma, cosmetics; require veterinary certification.
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Frog legs and specialty meats: From France, Belgium, etc.; subject to special inspection (HTS 0208.90.70).
Imports must originate from producer facilities approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, have valid veterinary health certificates for each shipment, and comply with Turkish label regulations. Otherwise, goods may be rejected, destroyed, or subject to further examination.
Our services include:
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Correct HTS classification
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Monitoring approved origin countries and processing plants
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Reviewing veterinary health certificates for content and format
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Technical advice on cold chain and transport conditions
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Preparing and assisting in customs veterinary inspection
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Coordinating sampling and examination
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Checking product composition and label compliance
Dairy and Dairy-Derived Product Inspections
Dairy products pose significant microbiological risks and perish quickly. Veterinary controls for imports are based on processing level, packaging, shelf-life, and transport conditions. Imports intended for human consumption are also crucial for preventing zoonotic disease spread.
Key requirements include approval of the production facility, mandatory processing (pasteurization, UHT, drying), and complete health certification. Official veterinarians verify processing records during import.
Main product categories:
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Raw and pasteurized milk: Frozen or liquid, checked according to processing level.
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Cheese and milk powder: All types of cheese and spray-dried milk powders.
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Yogurt, kefir, ice cream, and fermented dairy: Inspected based on thermal sensitivity and handling needs.
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Butter and spreadable milk fats: Considered animal fats and subject to veterinary control.
Imports must come from facilities recognized by the Ministry, include shipment-specific health certificates, and feature Turkish labeling. Non-compliant products may face customs hold, sampling, or return.
Our services include:
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HTS-based classification and compliance assessment
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Origin approval evaluation
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Processing-level certificate consultancy
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Format review of veterinary health certificates
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Technical support for shelflife, transport, packaging
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Preparation for sampling procedures
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Vetting Turkish labeling and declarations
Eggs and Bee Products
Eggs and bee-derived products pose specific veterinary inspection requirements due to their animal origin and varied uses (food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, supplements). Control depends on purpose, processing level, and transport method—especially for small-volume, high-precision shipments where documentation accuracy is critical.
Inspection involves:
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Shell eggs: Hatchery vs consumption eggs; checked for shell integrity, temperature, and expiry.
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Egg yolk/powder: Industrial-purpose, dried, cooked, or frozen products with distinct HTS classifications.
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Honey, propolis, bee pollen: Used for consumption or industrial production; inspected for microbiological safety, pesticide residues, and production method.
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Royal jelly, larva, bee embryos: Import as supplements or for research; require strict source, transport, and form controls.
Necessary are official approval of origin facilities, perfectly matching shipment-specific health certificates, packaging, temperature controls, and labeling.
Our services include:
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Accurate HTS classification and document requirements
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Certificate tracking for hatching eggs and processed egg products
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Monitoring origin approval for honey and bee products
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Advice on shelf-life and temperature conditions
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Preparing for customs veterinary inspection
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Rapid response to sampling or holds at customs
Criteria for Composite Products
Composite products—containing both plant and animal components—require careful evaluation. Whether subject to veterinary inspection depends on the type, percentage, and heat treatment of animal components. Higher animal content and direct human consumption raise the control level.
Risk assessment accounts for ingredient percentage, packaging, shelf-life, heat treatment, and transport conditions. Especially perishable, non-heat-treated, or loosely packaged goods warrant stricter control. Additionally, approval of the processing facility and documentation for all animal components must accompany the shipment.
Composite products commonly subject to inspection include:
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Meat‑containing sandwiches, soups, frozen pizzas, etc.: Require details on meat origin and processing.
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Products with over 50% milk or eggs: Pastries, pudding mixes, cream-based foods with total animal content ratio evaluation.
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Short shelf-life, non-heat-treated, loosely packaged products: Default to high-level control.
Such imports may need multiple certificates—for example, milk powder in a cake mix requires both veterinary and plant-based analysis certificates. This complexity demands careful document management by both importer and customs agents.
Our services include:
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HTS classification and control regime identification
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Analysis of animal-content-based veterinary necessity
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Multi-document tracking (veterinary, lab, etc.)
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Risk consultancy on shelf-life and packaging
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Preparation for physical inspection
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Compliance checking for sample composite items
Required Certificates and Documents
Imports of animal-origin products under veterinary control must be accompanied by documents issued in the origin country and submitted to Turkish Customs. Missing or incorrect paperwork may lead to customs delays, return, or destruction.
These documents must cover processing method, transport conditions, hygiene, microbiological safety, facility approval, and be shipment-specific. All labels must be in Turkish and consistent with health certificates.
Key documents include:
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Veterinary health certificate specific to product and use
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Hygiene and processing certificates
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Commercial documents (e.g. producer, shipment date, lot number)
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Approved facility certificates recognized by the Ministry
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Analysis or microbiological test reports
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Turkish-language labels and declaration consistency
Our services include:
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Tailored document checklists by product
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Content and format review of veterinary certificates
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Verification of facility approval on the authorized list
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Analysis of Turkish labeling compliance
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Uploading documents and matching declarations in customs systems
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Rapid mitigation plans for missing/inconsistent documents
Temporary and Regional Practices
At some border posts lacking veterinary control points, local Provincial Directorates of Agriculture and Forestry may have temporary authority to carry out inspections under official coordination.
How AB Customs Consultancy Supports You
Veterinary inspections in imports go far beyond document submission—they demand technical knowledge, product understanding, regulatory tracking, and coordination with official controls. At AB Customs, we provide comprehensive support to importers through the entire process:
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HTS classification and compliance determination
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Document preparation and verification
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Oversight of veterinary inspections at border
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Composite-product analysis and multi-document handling
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Efficient, error-free customs clearance
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Regulatory updates and sector analysis
Our expert team ensures your imports of live animals, animal products, or composite goods proceed smoothly, completely compliant and with minimum time and cost loss.
For updates on legislation and sector analyses, visit: https://abmevzuat.com
👉 For detailed service information and to get in touch: https://www.abgumruk.com.tr/hakkimizda
