May 3 2010

Turkey issues levies on livestock and beef imports

Turkish Council of Ministers' decree on livestock and beef imports was issued in the Official Gazette on Friday (30 April).

According to the decree, 10% of customs tax on livestock imports and 25% of customs duty on beef meat imports will be imposed. The country will import a total of 16,000 tonnes of livestock and 7,500 tonnes of beef meat and this will be valid till December 31, 2010.

Turkey has lifted restrictions on the imports of livestock, meat and fish in order to help curb domestic price increases, according to Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan.

Economy Minister Ali Babacan said meat prices in Turkey were well above those in Europe, adding that meat imports would continue until prices in the country dropped to "reasonable levels".