April 2, 2013

EU lifts ban on Turkish dairy imports

An import ban on Turkey's dairy products entering the EU has been lifted after more than a decade, with six companies expected to resume exports soon, said the country's Food, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister, Mehdi Eker.

"We are expecting to resume exports on April 3. We will regain our comparative advantage to trade quality Turkish dairy products in third countries as well," added the minister.

In 2000, the EU suspends dairy imports from Turkey, citing the failure of products to meet EU food standards requirements. Milk exports to the EU stopped in 2001.

Since 2007, Ankara has been negotiating with the union to reverse the decision.

Turkey's insistence also stems from the fact that it has also been unable to export dairy products to markets which have adopted and applied EU standards for imported food products.

Noting that his ministry has identified six milk companies that will resume exports to the EU, Eker said that the government expects other firms to join this group.

Commenting on the development, Turkish Milk Producers Union (SÃœTBÄ°R) Chairman, Ali Koyuncu said that the decision could help solve a lingering price uncertainty in domestic markets. "Turkey's daily milk production is 16.5 million tonnes. We expect sales to the EU to help increase this figure and lead to development of this sector," he stated, adding that he estimated the daily milk production to rise to 30 million tonnes in the short run.