New Import Restrictions
The National Committee for Import and Export extended a ban on apple imports through the end of November 2026 and ordered a separate halt to lemon imports running from October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. The measures were announced on 24 September 2026 by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Both steps were tied to the country's approved agricultural calendar and described as an effort to protect domestic produce during local harvest seasons.
Timeline of the Decision
The apple restriction builds on Decision No. 10 of 2026, whose Article 5 first barred apple imports from August 1 through the end of October 2026. The latest order pushes that cutoff to the end of November 2026, keeping foreign apples out of the market for an additional month.
The lemon ban is new, covering a window that begins on October 1, 2026 and closes on March 31, 2027, aligned with the domestic production timetable for the fruit.
Enforcement and Publication
The committee instructed the General Customs Directorate to take the steps needed to apply the decision. The order is to be published in the Official Gazette and takes effect from the date of its issuance.
Protecting Local Harvests
The agricultural calendar sets import windows for a range of farm goods according to when each crop is produced inside the country. The stated aim is to keep local supply available in markets while limiting competition between imported and domestically grown produce during harvest periods.
Apple and lemon are the latest items covered by that framework, which has been used to schedule import-ban periods for a list of agricultural products this year.