New Import Curbs
Syrian authorities have moved to tighten controls on fruit imports, suspending shipments of lemons and extending an existing ban on apple imports. The measures were reviewed on 6 October 2026 by the parliamentary economic committee, chaired by Lina Aizouqi, which examined Decision No. 14 issued by the national body overseeing imports and exports.
The committee met with a majority of its members present and considered the decision alongside a broader agenda covering trade, customs, and support for domestic producers. The restrictions set the terms on which the two fruits may enter the country over the coming months.
Lemon and Apple Timelines
Under the decision, lemon imports are suspended from 1 October 2026 through 31 March 2027. The ban on apple imports, first set in September 2026, has been extended through 30 November 2026.
The timelines align the restrictions with the periods when the two fruits' domestic harvests reach local markets, closing the import window while Syrian-grown produce is available. Each window is tied to a fixed start and end date rather than left open-ended.
Protecting Local Growers
Officials framed the curbs as protection for domestic agricultural production, limiting competition from imported fruit during the local harvest season. The approach ties the opening and closing of import windows to the approved agricultural calendar.
By restricting imports when supply from Syrian farms is strongest, the policy is intended to steady the prices paid to growers and keep demand directed toward local output. It also gives producers a clearer picture of the market they will be selling into through the winter months.
Wider Trade Agenda
The session also took up customs tariffs on raw materials and proposals to support industrialists, part of an effort to ease costs for domestic manufacturers. Members additionally reviewed legislation governing the renewal of commercial registrations.
Those items placed the fruit measures within a larger review of how trade and customs rules bear on local production. The discussions point to a continued focus on calibrating trade policy to shield domestic agriculture and industry while managing the flow of imported goods.