According to records from the European Commission's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), residues of acetamiprid and spirotetramat were found in fresh peppers originating in Turkey that were stopped at Bulgarian customs on August 19, 2025. These levels were documented with the statement "border control - shipment detained," and the notification was classified as a "border rejection notification." Acetamiprid, one of the pesticides found, is an insecticide. Exposure to high residue levels in humans can cause effects such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and nervous system depression. Spirotetramat, another insecticide, is used primarily against aphids and flies. However, high residue levels can have negative effects on liver and kidney function and lead to hormonal imbalances. This incident once again highlighted the importance of pesticide testing, which is critical for safe food trade. If the maximum residue levels (MRLs) accepted within the EU are not met, the relevant products are directly rejected.
Food Shipments Returned from Turkey: A Trend?
Scenes similar to this have been frequently repeated in recent years. According to RASFF data, numerous agricultural products originating in Turkey were rejected at the border due to residue risks:
In March 2024, etoxazole and acetamiprid were detected in fresh peppers entering Bulgaria, leading to a detention of the shipment. Further notifications in March 2025 identified traces of pesticides such as fosthiazate, spirotetramat, and chlorpyrifos-methyl in peppers, leading to border rejections. In April 2024, RASFF issued warnings covering 50 food products shipped from Turkey; 31 of these were rejected entirely at the border. These items included a variety of food items, including fresh peppers, lemons, pomegranates, and dried figs.
The reports also revealed numerous instances where both banned and highly authorized pesticides triggered alerts in products originating in Turkey: pomegranates (deltamethrin, pyraclostrobin, acetamiprid) were detected in products such as lemons, tomatoes, dried figs, and pistachios. This data demonstrates that Turkey still faces significant challenges in its harmonization process with EU food safety standards.
Turkey's General Situation and Developments
As a Customs Union and negotiation candidate with the EU, Turkey is obligated to adapt its food safety legislation to EU standards. However, in practice, there has been criticism that notifications from the RASFF are not adequately monitored in the domestic market and are not communicated to the public and producers. For example, despite rejection notifications issued through the RASFF for products such as dried figs, pistachios, and tomatoes, steps such as official warnings or recalls have not been frequently taken for the same products in Turkey. Furthermore, the fact that the use of even banned pesticides like Chlorpyrifos is still being detected raises concerns about weakened controls. In this context, strengthening regulatory capacity, developing effective inspection mechanisms, and developing transparent communication channels are critical.
Lessons for Food Safety
The refusal to allow entry of peppers originating in Turkey into Bulgaria due to the presence of acetamiprid and spirotetramat sends a clear message to both producers and systems: Food safety is not a mere formality. The path to success in the EU market relies on robust pesticide testing, strong inspection systems, and transparent risk communication.
In this area, Turkey must strictly control pesticide use in production processes, strictly prohibit the use of banned or high-risk substances, take swift and effective legal action in response to notifications received through international alert systems such as RASFF, and implement similar safety protocols in the domestic market and inform consumers.
These incidents are not only a trade risk but also a serious warning for public health. Turkey can reduce such rejections through systemic improvements and create a safe and sustainable food safety environment for both producers and consumers.
Source:
Middle East Forum : https://www.meforum.org/mef-online/turkey-again-tops-list-of-eus-food-safety-violations
Turkey Recap : https://www.turkeyrecap.com/p/turkey-banned-a-hazardous-pesticide
Doğruluk Payı : https://www.dogrulukpayi.com/bulten/turkiye-nin-sinirda-geri-cevrilen-ihrac-urunleri
Hürriyet English : https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/safety-concerns-challenge-turkish-food-exports-to-europe-193150
Intertek Turkey : https://www.intertek-turkey.com/guncel-duyurular/rasff-mart-ayi-turkiye-orijinli-bildirim-listesi-2025
European Commission RASFF : https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/784302
Sözcü Newspaper : https://www.sozcu.com.tr/turkiye-den-bulgaristan-a-gonderilen-biberler-geri-cevrildi-tehlike-buyuk-p213862
