Food Exports from Türkiye to the U.S.: The End-to-End FDA and USDA Sequence

Exporting food from Türkiye to the U.S. is not a matter of a single document. It runs through several consecutive steps: facility registration, determining which rules apply to the product, labeling, permits where required, the importer and customs. When these steps move in the right order, the entry side is ready by the time the product ships.

In this article we walk through the process end to end, without going into technical detail. We cover the product-specific details of each step separately in our product guides; you will find links to all of them below.

Türkiye’s exports to the U.S. in numbers

The U.S. is one of Türkiye’s two largest export markets. According to preliminary data released by the Ministry of Trade on October 3, 2026, exports reached $25.98 billion in September 2026, up 15.4 percent from the same month a year earlier. In the same month, the U.S. ranked second after Germany with $1.92 billion (Ministry of Trade).

Agricultural and product group figures come from the Turkish Exporters Assembly; September data is preliminary and may change with final TÜİK data. What the table shows: exports to the U.S. are growing, and food is part of that growth. For a food manufacturer looking to enter the U.S. market, the real work is making sure the product enters in line with the rules.

Does your product fall under FDA or USDA?

Most food shipped to the U.S. falls under the FDA. Meat, poultry and egg products fall under the USDA, and some products of animal or plant origin may also require a separate USDA APHIS permit. Since the responsible agency depends on what the product contains, the first step is to clarify this.

We explain how the sequence works for animal products in our article on exporting animal-based food to the U.S., and the permit side in our USDA VS Permit guide.

The end-to-end sequence: seven steps

1. FDA facility registration and US Agent. The production facility is registered with the FDA, and a U.S. representative (US Agent) is designated. Registration is renewed in even-numbered years.
2. Product category. Products such as canned goods, tomato paste and pickles may fall under a separate regime; these products require an FCE facility number and a SID filing for each product.
3. Label. A U.S.-format Nutrition Facts panel, an English ingredient list, an allergen statement and net quantity.
4. Permit. If the product falls under USDA or contains animal-derived ingredients, the required permit is obtained.
5. Importer and customs bond. The importer who will file the entry on the U.S. side is identified, and the customs bond is arranged.
6. Shipment notice. Prior notice is submitted to the FDA before the product ships.
7. Customs and FDA review. At the port of entry, documents and, if needed, samples are reviewed; compliant products are released.

We cover the cost side of these steps in our article on the cost of exporting food to the U.S., and the customs bond in our U.S. customs bond guide.

Where do products get held most often?

In FDA import refusal records, labeling is the most common reason Turkish food products are held. It is followed by color additive, residue and sanitation findings, and by missing FCE or SID filings. A significant share of these refusals stems not from lab results but from an incomplete or incorrect file, which means they can often be prevented with a check before shipment. We compiled refusal data for Turkish food products in our import refusal article.

Our product guides

Each product group has its own specific points. We have prepared separate guides for the most frequently asked-about products:

• Exporting olive oil to the U.S.
• Exporting olives to the U.S.
• Exporting honey to the U.S.
• Exporting coffee to the U.S.
• Exporting dried figs to the U.S.
• Exporting canned food to the U.S.

If you are also considering shipping to Canada

In Canada, food is regulated by the CFIA, and registration, labeling and importer rules work differently than in the U.S. For manufacturers planning both markets together, we cover the Canadian side separately in our article on food exports to Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Do food exports to the U.S. require FDA approval?

For food, what is required is facility registration, not "approval." The FDA registers the manufacturing facility; products are not approved one by one. Whether a product is compliant is checked at the port of entry based on documents and, if needed, samples.

Which products require a USDA permit?

Meat, poultry and egg products fall under the USDA. For some products containing animal-derived ingredients, a USDA APHIS permit may also be required in addition to FDA registration. The decision depends on the product's ingredients.

Can we use our Türkiye label in the U.S.?

Usually not. The U.S. Nutrition Facts panel, English ingredient list, allergen statement and net quantity format are different. Reviewing the label against U.S. rules before printing noticeably reduces the risk of refusal.

How long does the process take?

It depends on the product. For a product that only needs FDA registration and a label, the process can be completed within a few weeks; for products that require FCE/SID or a USDA permit, it may take longer. That is why the timeline is set product by product.

Conclusion

Food exports from Türkiye to the U.S. are a growing area, and taking a share of that growth depends on the product entering the market in compliance with the rules. Identifying the right agency, completing registrations in order and checking the label before shipment are the three steps that save the most time in the process.

To clarify together which steps your product needs, you can review our FDA registration and certification service or contact us.

Last updated: October 11, 2026