Guide

Importing food from Türkiye into Great Britain: origin, border checks and labels

Lotvela · Gaziantep · Checked 28 October 2026

To import food from Türkiye into Great Britain you need an EORI number starting GB, a customs declaration for each consignment and, for the preferential duty rate, the exporter's origin declaration on the invoice; no EUR.1 is used. Dried figs and pistachios also need an official certificate and laboratory results. They, sesame seeds, tahini and halva must be pre-notified on IPAFFS and enter through a border control post.

The UK–Türkiye trade agreement

The UK and Türkiye signed a free trade agreement on 29 December 2020. It has applied since 1 January 2021 and formally entered into force on 20 April 2021. It replaced the EU–Türkiye customs union for UK trade, so the A.TR does not apply to imports into the UK. Talks on an enhanced agreement continue; the sixth round ended on 2 October 2026.

Preferential origin

Only goods that meet the agreement's rules of origin pay the preferential rate. For chapter 8 nuts and dried fruit, all chapter 8 materials must be wholly obtained, and non-originating sugar of headings 1701 and 1702 must not exceed 20% of the product's weight. Processed foods have their own rules; ask your broker to check each commodity code.

Who makes the origin declaration

The Turkish exporter makes it on the invoice or another commercial document describing the goods, not on a bill of lading. The UK Trade Tariff lists no other proof for this agreement, and GOV.UK tells importers to declare it instead of an EUR.1 or A.TR. Approved exporters add their authorisation number; others leave it blank, and no REX number is needed. GOV.UK says a declaration is valid for 24 months for UK imports.

Where to check tariffs

The UK Global Tariff has applied since 1 January 2021 and lists preferences under UK trade agreements. Look up your commodity code, duty and VAT in the Trade Tariff service on GOV.UK. We do not quote duty rates.

Importer basics

EORI. Imports into England, Wales or Scotland need an EORI number that starts with GB.
Customs declaration. Each consignment needs an import declaration with its commodity code and value. Most businesses use a customs agent.
Food business duties. Businesses in food distribution or brokerage register with their local authority at least 28 days before trading in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, even with no food on their premises; Scotland has its own guidance. Imported food must comply with GB food law. Keep records of suppliers and customers, and withdraw or recall unsafe food and tell the authorities.

Border checks on high-risk food

Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 sets increased checks on listed high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin (HRFNAO). Annex II goods also need an official certificate and laboratory results. England replaced both annexes from 1 January 2026. For Türkiye they list:

Annex II: dried figs and fig products for aflatoxins, with 20% of consignments checked; pistachios and pistachio products for aflatoxins, 50%; vine leaves for pesticide residues, 50%.
Annex I: sesame seeds, and tahini and halva, for Salmonella, 10%; unprocessed apricot kernels for consumers, for cyanide, 50%; citrus, pomegranates and peppers for pesticide residues.
Not listed: hazelnuts, dried apricots, olive oil, bulgur and pulses.

Annex II also covers confectionery, chocolate and bakers' wares containing more than 20% of a product listed for aflatoxins, so check pistachio sweets.

The Food Standards Agency's guidance on importing nuts, published in June 2026, names hazelnuts and pistachios from Türkiye under special conditions, but the legal annexes do not list Turkish hazelnuts. Confirm hazelnut consignments with your border control post. See our pages on dried figs, Antep pistachios, hazelnuts and tahini.

Pre-notification and border control posts

The importer or its agent pre-notifies listed consignments on IPAFFS at least one working day before expected arrival; a border control post may accept four hours where logistics prevent that. The goods must enter through a post designated for food of non-animal origin; GOV.UK publishes the list. A consignment sampled for analysis stays in customs-controlled storage until results are known, unless the port health authority agrees onward movement under continuous control.

Annex II certificate and laboratory results

Each Annex II consignment travels with sampling and analysis results from Türkiye's competent authorities and an official certificate on the model published for Great Britain. Both bear the consignment's identification code. The certificate is issued before the goods leave Turkish control and is valid for at most four months from issue and six months from the laboratory results. GB maximum levels are still set in assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006. Our export documents guide covers the Turkish side.

Wales and Scotland

Wales (S.I. 2025/1169) and Scotland (S.S.I. 2025/335) made their own amendments, also in force from 1 January 2026. When we checked, their entries for Turkish figs, pistachios, sesame seeds, tahini and halva matched England's. The lists must be reviewed at least every six months.

The Border Target Operating Model

The Border Target Operating Model (updated 13 February 2024) says HRFNAO controls will broadly continue under assimilated Regulation 2019/1793, with regular reviews, and that these goods must arrive at a port with a relevant border control post.

Labelling for Great Britain

Assimilated Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 applies in Great Britain, and mandatory information must be in English. The label needs a UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man address for the food business or, if that business is outside Great Britain, for the importer. It must be a physical address.

The 14 allergens are emphasised in the ingredients list. They include sesame seeds, and sulphur dioxide and sulphites above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre as total SO2, which matters for sulphured dried apricots.

Natasha's Law has applied since 1 October 2021 to food prepacked for direct sale: food packed where it is sold, before it is ordered. The FSA's guidance covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Retail packs filled in Türkiye are prepacked food and need full labelling, so Natasha's Law matters only if goods are repacked where they are sold. Our private-label guide covers artwork approval.

Northern Ireland

Different rules apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework; see Trading and moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland.

Documents checklist

Document	Who issues it	When it is needed
EORI number starting GB	HMRC	Before the first import
Food business registration	Local authority	At least 28 days before trading (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)
Invoice with origin declaration	Turkish exporter	Each consignment claiming the preferential rate
Import declaration	Importer or its customs agent	Each consignment
IPAFFS pre-notification	Importer or its agent	At least one working day before arrival, for listed goods
Official certificate (GB model)	Competent authority in Türkiye	Annex II goods, before they leave Turkish control
Laboratory results	Türkiye's competent authorities	Annex II goods, with the certificate
GB-compliant label	Importer or brand owner approves	Before sale in Great Britain

Other products are listed on what we source.

Questions buyers ask

Do I need an EUR.1 or an origin declaration from Türkiye?

An origin declaration. The Turkish exporter writes it on the invoice or another commercial document that describes the goods. The UK Trade Tariff lists no other proof for the UK–Türkiye agreement, and GOV.UK says to declare it instead of an EUR.1 or A.TR. Approved exporters add their authorisation number. Without a valid declaration, the goods may pay the standard UK Global Tariff rate.

Are Turkish figs and pistachios checked at the UK border?

Yes. England's Annex II lists dried figs from Türkiye for aflatoxins, with 20% of consignments physically checked, and pistachios at 50%. Each consignment needs an official certificate, laboratory results, IPAFFS pre-notification and entry through a designated border control post. Wales and Scotland list the same rates. The lists are reviewed at least every six months, so recheck before each contract.

Do I need to pre-notify on IPAFFS?

Yes, for listed high-risk food, including Turkish dried figs, pistachios, sesame seeds, tahini and halva. The importer or its agent notifies the border control post of first arrival at least one working day before expected arrival; a post may accept four hours where logistics prevent that. Hazelnuts, dried apricots and olive oil from Türkiye are not on the legal lists.

Is the UK list the same as the EU list?

No. The EU's annexes, replaced from 30 June 2026, check 30% of Turkish dried figs for aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, and 30% of sesame seeds for Salmonella, and do not list Turkish tahini. England checks 20% of figs for aflatoxins only, and 10% of sesame seeds and of tahini and halva. Both check 50% of pistachios.

Sending a brief to Lotvela

Lotvela is a sourcing intermediary in Gaziantep. Send a brief and we approach producers that may fit, check product fit, a free production window, export record and documents, then send you a dated shortlist with every claim marked confirmed or not confirmed. It is free for buyers: the producer pays a commission at the same rate for every producer, invoices and ships the goods, and money never passes through Lotvela.