Organic Product Exports from Turkey: Certification and Market Guide

Global Outlook for the Organic Food Market

The global organic food market has reached a size of $220 billion as of 2025 and continues to grow at 10–12% annually. Health consciousness, environmental awareness, and food safety concerns are the primary factors driving consumers toward organic products.

Leading markets for organic food consumption:

Switzerland and Denmark are the world leaders in per capita organic food consumption. These markets offer significant opportunities for high value-added organic products.

Turkey's Organic Agriculture Potential

Current Status

Turkey possesses significant potential in organic agriculture:

• Organic farming area: 120,000+ hectares
• Land in transition: 80,000+ hectares
• Certified organic producers: 85,000+
• Organic product varieties: 250+
• Organic export value: $1.2+ billion
• Countries exported to: 60+

Turkey's Organic Agriculture Advantages

1. Climate and Soil Diversity Turkey's diverse climatic zones allow for the cultivation of a wide range of organic products. The Aegean, Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Central Anatolian regions each specialize in different organic products.

2. Traditional Agricultural Heritage Traditional farming methods are still practiced in many regions, making the transition to organic certification relatively easy. Small-scale farmers with low chemical input usage can adapt to organic production quickly.

3. Biodiversity Turkey is one of the countries with the richest biodiversity in the world. With over 12,000 plant species, of which 3,500 are endemic, this richness constitutes a unique resource for organic agriculture.

4. Strategic Location Proximity to Europe's largest organic food markets (Germany, France, Italy, UK) provides a logistics advantage. The ability to deliver fresh organic products in a short time is an important edge in terms of quality and freshness.

Organic Certification Processes

What Is Organic Certification?

Organic certification is an independent evaluation process that verifies agricultural products have been produced, processed, and marketed in accordance with specific standards. Products without certification cannot be marketed as "organic."

General Certification Process

1. Application and Registration (1–2 weeks)

• Application to a certification body
• Submission of farm/facility information
• Preparation of the production plan and historical records
• Contract signing

2. Transition Period (2–3 years)

• 2-year transition period for annual crops
• 3-year transition period for perennial crops
• Full compliance with organic production rules during this period
• Transition products may be marketed as "in-conversion organic"

3. On-Site Inspection (at least once a year)

• Field and facility inspection
• Soil and water sampling
• Record and documentation review
• Input verification
• Review of storage and processing conditions

4. Sampling and Analysis

• Soil analysis
• Product pesticide residue analysis
• Water quality analysis
• GMO testing when required

5. Certificate Issuance

• Evaluation of the inspection report
• Request for corrective actions if non-conformities exist
• Certificate issued when all conditions are met
• 1-year validity period

Core Rules of Organic Production

Permitted practices:

• Use of organic seeds and seedlings
• Natural fertilizers (compost, green manure, animal manure)
• Biological pest control (beneficial insects, pheromone traps)
• Mechanical weed control
• Crop rotation
• Natural plant protection preparations

Prohibited practices:

• Synthetic chemical pesticides and herbicides
• Synthetic fertilizers
• GMO (genetically modified) seeds and materials
• Ionizing radiation (irradiation)
• Growth regulators
• Hydroponics (soilless agriculture, under most standards)

EU Organic Standard

EU Regulation 2018/848

The EU's new organic regulation came into effect on January 1, 2022, replacing the previous regulation (EC 834/2007).

Key changes:

• Expansion of group certification rules
• Strengthening of control and inspection processes
• Equivalence principle in the import regime instead of compliance
• Inclusion of new product categories

Organic Exports to the EU

To export organic products from Turkey to the EU:

1. Certification body: Obtain certification from a body recognized by the EU (listed in Annex IV)
2. TRACES system: The organic import control certificate (COI) must be issued through the TRACES-NT system
3. Importer notification: The EU importer must be registered with the competent authority
4. Labeling: EU organic logo and certification number
5. Traceability: Full traceability from raw material to finished product

EU Organic Labeling Rules

• EU organic logo (green leaf) is mandatory
• Certification body code number
• Production location: "EU Agriculture," "Non-EU Agriculture," or "EU/Non-EU Agriculture"
• Minimum 95% organic content required (by weight)

US Organic Standard (USDA Organic)

NOP (National Organic Program)

The US organic standard is administered by the NOP, which operates under the USDA.

Organic label levels:

Turkey-US Organic Equivalence

There is no mutual equivalence agreement between Turkey and the US for organic products. Therefore, to export organic products to the US:

• Certification must be obtained from a certification body accredited by USDA NOP
• Full compliance with NOP rules is required
• The US importer must meet NOP requirements

Differences Between EU and US Standards

Turkey's Leading Organic Products

1. Organic Dried Fruits

Organic dried apricots:

• Malatya is the center
• 60%+ of the world's organic dried apricot market
• Exports to 40+ countries, primarily the EU and US
• Annual organic exports: $100+ million

Organic dried figs:

• Aydin and Izmir region
• 50%+ of the world's organic fig market
• Premium quality and geographical indication advantage

Organic raisins:

• Aegean Region sultana grapes
• Growing organic demand

2. Organic Hazelnuts

• Black Sea Region (Giresun, Ordu, Trabzon)
• World leader in organic hazelnut exports
• Organic raw material source for the chocolate industry
• Annual exports: $300+ million

3. Organic Olive Oil

• Aegean and Southern Marmara region
• Extra virgin organic olive oil
• Growing demand in the EU market
• Premium pricing opportunity

4. Organic Cotton

• Turkey ranks 2nd in the world in organic cotton production
• Centered in the Aegean Region
• Raw material for the textile sector

5. Organic Pulses and Grains

• Organic lentils, chickpeas, beans
• Organic wheat and rye
• Central Anatolian and Southeastern Anatolian regions
• Well-suited to the gluten-free and healthy eating trend

6. Organic Honey

• Turkey ranks 2nd in the world in honey production
• Organic pine honey, blossom honey, chestnut honey
• High pricing in the premium segment

7. Organic Herbal Products

• Organic tea (Rize)
• Organic spices (oregano, cumin, sumac)
• Organic medicinal and aromatic plants
• Raw materials for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors

Market Opportunities and Strategies

Growing Market Segments

1. Organic baby food:

• The category where parents spend the most on organic products
• 15%+ annual growth
• Strict regulations but high margins

2. Organic snacks:

• Healthy snacking trend
• Organic dried fruit bars, trail mixes
• Organic chip and cracker alternatives

3. Organic superfoods:

• Chia seed, quinoa, and goji berry equivalents
• Positioning Turkish organic products as superfoods
• Local superfoods such as carob, black mulberry, and pomegranate

4. Organic ready meals:

• Organic soups and sauces
• Organic frozen foods
• Organic baby food

Export Strategies

1. Shifting to Value-Added Products

Transitioning from raw material exports to processed product exports significantly increases value added:

2. Brand Development

• Creating a brand story unique to Turkish organic products
• Leveraging geographical indication and origin advantages
• Online and offline marketing strategies
• Participation in international organic fairs (BioFach, Natural Products Expo)

3. E-Commerce Channels

• Platforms like Amazon Organic and iHerb
• Specialized organic food platforms
• D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) model
• Subscription boxes and trial packages

4. Private Label Organic Production

Organic private label production for supermarket chains in Europe and the US:

• Lower marketing costs
• Guaranteed volume
• Long-term contracts
• No brand investment required

Certification Bodies

EU and/or USDA approved organic certification bodies operating in Turkey:

• Ecocert: EU and NOP approved, global leader
• Control Union (CU): EU and NOP approved
• IMO (Institute for Marketecology): EU approved
• BCS Oko-Garantie: EU approved
• ETKO: Turkish certification body, EU approved
• Orser: Turkish certification body, EU approved

Certification Costs

Government Support

Organic Agriculture Support

Support provided to organic agriculture producers in Turkey:

• Per-area support: Organic farming subsidy per decare
• Certification support: 50% of certification costs
• Input support: Organic fertilizer and biological pest control
• Marketing support: Participation in organic fairs
• Training support: Organic farming education programs

Export Support

• Additional incentives for organic product exports
• Brand support under the TURQUALITY program
• Trade fair participation and promotion support

Conclusion

Organic product exports from Turkey present significant opportunities for both the national economy and producers. Rich agricultural biodiversity, favorable climatic conditions, and a strategic location make Turkey an important player in organic food production.

Although the organic certification process requires patience and investment, the 30–100% higher prices achieved for organic products and the growing global demand make this investment profitable over the long term.

Choosing the right certification body, understanding the regulations of your target market, and delivering quality products are the keys to success in your organic export journey. At Toko Trading, we offer professional support throughout your organic product sourcing and export process.