April 18, 2011
 

Turkey's DDGS imports face regulatory restrictions

Turkish imports of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), which attained a record of 465,000 tonnes in 2008, have been struck with two regulatory restrictions, which the US Grains Council (USGC) is making move to resolve, the group said on April 14.

The more immediate challenge is a newly adopted Turkish standard for DDGS that calls for fat levels between 5% and 10%. At the moment the standard is voluntary, but previous Turkish practice suggests the government will make it mandatory.

So-called brown DDGS for the cattle industry may be able to meet the Turkish standard, but golden DDGS, which the growing Turkish poultry industry demands, would not, according to Joe O'Brien, USGC regional director in the Middle East and Subcontinent.

"We are mobilising the industry in Turkey to respond to the standards issue and have these levels amended," O'Brien said. "Large importers and end-users will not want to lose this valuable ingredient."

With 9.5 million cattle, 6.5 million goats, 20 million sheep and a very large, modern poultry sector, Turkey was the fifth-largest importer of US DDGS prior to China's adoption of DDGS.

O'Brien believes the standards issue can be resolved but warns biotechnology acceptance is a parallel problem that overrides the standards issue.

Turkey indicated it is trying to emulate EU policy on biotechnology, a move complicated by media-driven public distrust of all genetically enhanced products.

Turkish feed millers and food and drink associations have applied to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to have 21 biotech corn single events approved as in the EU.

"Technically that would allow DDGS to re-enter Turkey," O'Brien said, warning, however, that Turkey has zero tolerance for the T-25 trait.

"Skyrocketing domestic meat and poultry prices have already prompted Turkey to liberalise some meat and feeder cattle imports, and domestic feed prices are still high," O'Brien said. "There is a sense that Turkey will soon find a way out and let biotech feed enter the country. DDGS is a proven alternative in the Turkish market, and the industry will want to begin importing it again."