MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Strengthening food safety and supporting European farmers: issues of compliance and unfair competition by Turkish products – E-000168/2025(ASW)

Food products , imported into the EU from third countries must comply with the EU food safety standards laid down in EU legislation.

To that end, Member States carry out official controls and enforcement activities in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 2017/625[1]. Furthermore, according to Article 120 of the same Regulation, the Commission may perform controls in third countries to verify third countries’ compliance with EU’s requirements.

Where food of non-animal origin from third countries poses a risk, the Commission adopts measures concerning its entry into the EU through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793[2], such as increased frequencies of checks (including sampling and laboratory analyses) at the entry of the Union.

In addition, it asks the authorities of the third country concerned to strengthen its production and control procedures and to report to the Commission about the results of these efforts.

When persistent systemic infringements are identified or there is a lack of satisfactory improvement, further action is taken, which may ultimately result in the suspension of entry of the products concerned into the EU.

Several products originating from Türkiye are subject to measures as they are listed in Annexes of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 and the issue is regularly raised with the country’s authorities under the umbrella of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union.

These measures are periodically reviewed and adjusted as necessary, considering new information related to risks and instances of non-compliance based on the evolution of risks, non-compliances and other factors provided by the Member States.

• [1] Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) OJ L 95, 07/04/2017, p. 1-142.
• [2] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 of 22 October 2019 on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the Union of certain goods from certain third countries implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 669/2009, (EU) No 884/2014, (EU) 2015/175, (EU) 2017/186 and (EU) 2018/1660 OJ L 277, 29.10.2019, p. 89 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/1793/oj/eng