Turkey was the second most frequently flagged country for pesticide-related food safety alerts in the European Union market in 2025, according to data from the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).
Figures compiled by Greenpeace Turkey from RASFF records show that India topped the list with 124 pesticide notifications last year, followed by Turkey with 105 and Egypt with 88. China and Brazil trailed with 48 and 34 notifications, respectively.
Of the 105 alerts involving Turkish products, 51 resulted in border rejections, according to the data. More than half of the rejected shipments were fresh peppers, accounting for 27 notifications. Tomatoes followed with nine alerts, while pomegranates accounted for five. Other rejected products included lemons, grape leaves, pears, grapefruit, mandarins and peaches.
Eight of the 27 pepper alerts involved formetanate, a highly toxic pesticide banned for use on peppers in Turkey. Peppers have consistently ranked among the most frequently rejected Turkish exports in previous years as well.
Greenpeace Turkey director Berkan Özyer said Turkey’s position as the second most-notified country was alarming and pointed to a systemic problem in pepper production. He called for pesticide analysis results to be made public, noting that more than 50,000 people have backed Greenpeace’s campaign demanding transparency. Özyer also said a court ruling last year ordered the disclosure of such data, adding that the continued prominence of peppers in border rejections suggests a persistent failure to address the issue.
The EU uses the RASFF system to monitor food safety risks, publicly identifying the country of origin, the reason for rejection and the harmful substances detected. Data show that fresh peppers exported from Turkey repeatedly exceeded permitted pesticide residue limits.
Formetanate, one of the substances cited in the alerts, has high acute toxicity and affects the nervous system by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. Exposure can cause headaches, nausea and breathing difficulties and may be life-threatening in severe cases. The World Health Organization lists formetanate among the eight most dangerous pesticides, warning that such chemicals can continue to pose risks to nearby residents even after application.
Meanwhile, new alerts recorded in early 2026 point to continued concerns. On January 7 Croatia rejected eggplants imported from Turkey after detecting formetanate residue, issuing a “serious” alert and ordering border refusal. On January 2 Malta rejected dried figs from Turkey after finding levels of ochratoxin A above permitted limits, while a separate notification the same day reported aflatoxin B1 contamination in another shipment of dried figs.
Environmental groups have repeatedly warned that products rejected at EU borders may pose risks if they re-enter domestic supply chains, calling for greater transparency and public disclosure of inspection results.
Pesticides are chemical or biological substances used in agriculture to protect crops from pests, weeds and fungi. Experts warn that uncontrolled and excessive use of pesticides poses serious risks to both the environment and human health as residues can contaminate soil and water sources.
Acute exposure to pesticide residues can cause symptoms such as nausea, skin irritation, itching and dizziness, while long-term exposure has been linked to more severe outcomes including neurological damage, birth defects, kidney and lung diseases and cancer.
Similar alerts have been recorded in previous years, with pesticide residues, mycotoxins and other contaminants frequently cited in EU notifications involving Turkish exports.
Turkey remains one of the EU’s major food suppliers, making compliance with pesticide limits a key issue for both public health and export sustainability.