RULE CHANGE

HIGH RISK PRODUCTS AND ADDITIONAL MEASURES IN ORGANIC PRODUCT EXPORTS TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

According to the letter numbered Ref.Ares(2024)8617864 - 03/12/2024, sent by the European Commission Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development to all authorized control and certification bodies in accordance with the regulation 2018/848, risks have been detected in some organic products to be exported to the European Union from some countries, including Turkiye, and additional measures have been introduced. The products for which additional measures will be applied for Turkiye between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025 are listed in the table below.

Country	Product	CN Code	Percentage of consignments subject to checks and sampling
Turkiye	Lentils	0713 40 00	10%
Turkiye	Pomegranates	ex2009 89 99 30 ex0811 90 95 30 ex0810 90 75 30	30%
Turkiye	Sultanas	0806 20 30	10%

ADDITIONAL CONTROL MEASURES:

CTR will conduct additional sampling for all consigments of the products mentioned above, based on the percentage rates provided in the table.
Samples will be analyzed in an accredited laboratory to cover all non-authorised substances, including ethylene oxide.
The results of the analysis or the tests carried out on the samples taken should be included in the sampling report and contain the identification of the consignment: lot number and, when available, number of the certificate of inspection (COI).
A certificate of inspection (COI) will not be issued without evaluating the results of the analyses.
The analysis report will be uploaded to the TRACES system together with the commercial and shipping documents.
CTR will carry out 2 physical inspections per year for each operator related to the production, preparation, trade, storage or export of the organic products listed above that it aims to certify. One of these inspections will be unannounced.
On a farm that is certified for the first time, CTR will carry out the first inspection of each parcel before cultivation measures on that parcel in order to be able to certify the product.
CTR will take at least one field crop sample each year at each operator. The sample will be taken from crops in the field, at the most appropriate moment to detect the potential use of non-authorised substances according to expert knowledge. For operators not growing crops, a relevant sample of incoming raw material, intermediate product or processed product should be taken.
CTR will verify the product flows and traceability established by the operator. Also, the quantities of products harvested and/or prepared, the means of storage and transportation of the goods, including the possible application of substances not permitted in these stages, will be verified.
CTR will thoroughly analyze the accounting and financial documents of each operator. CTR will systematically verify the destination of all products harvested and/or prepared on the farm to which it has issued the certificate, including the names and quantities of the buyers, regardless of whether these products are sold or exported organically.
Before the shipment leaves Turkey, which is the country of origin or export, CTR will issue the certificate of inspection (COI).
Before issuing a certificate of inspection (COI), CTR perform the following controls:
- a) Traceability of products and components;
- b) The volume of products included in the consignment complies with the mass balance controls of the relevant producers, as inspected by CTR;
- c) Relevant transport documents and commercial documents of the products (including invoices).

Upon request, CTR shall send these traceability documents to the relevant importer's control body and to the Competent Authorities of the importing country. In case of a complex supply chain, a transparent flow chart shall be attached to these documents, clearly presenting both the flow of goods and the financial flow.

At least points a) and c) should also be applied to new and other operators who cultivate fields that are in conversion to organic farming.

Kind regards.