Dried Fruits | Inspection guide

Sultana Raisin Inspection in Turkey

Turkey is one of the world's leading raisin exporters, specialising in sultanas from the seedless Sultani Çekirdeksiz grape. Colour type, ochratoxin A, residues and foreign matter are the main inspection points.

Request an inspection Quality parameters

Season: August to October
Main regions: Aegean
Category: Dried Fruits
Key tests: Ochratoxin A; Pesticide residues

01Product overview

Grapes are dipped in a potassium carbonate and oil emulsion to speed drying, then dried on the ground or on racks
Processed sultanas are washed, destemmed, laser sorted and lightly oiled
Traded by type number, which reflects colour, from lighter to darker grades
Golden raisins are treated with sulphur dioxide

02Turkish production regions

Manisa (Alaşehir, Salihli, Sarıgöl), Denizli (Çal, Buldan) and İzmir.

Aegean

03Harvest and production season

Drying in August and September; new crop ships from September.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August, in season
September, in season
October, in season
November
December

Typical window: August to October. Timing shifts with altitude, variety and weather. See the full Turkish harvest calendar.

04Export characteristics

Sultanas are exported to the UK, EU, Australia and many other markets, largely to industrial users and private-label packers.

05Typical quality parameters

Quality parameters for Sultana Raisins
Parameter	What is checked
Type and colour	Contract type number and colour uniformity
Size	Berries per 100 g
Moisture	Within the contract range
Defects	Capstems, stems, damaged, sugared and mouldy berries
Foreign matter	Stones, sand, plastic, wood and other contaminants

Limits and tolerances come from your contract and the applicable standard. We do not apply generic values where a contract specification exists.

06Visual inspection criteria

Capstem count
Sugared and crystallised berries
Mould and insect damage
Stones and other foreign matter

07Sampling methods

For mycotoxin testing, sampling follows Regulation (EC) No 401/2006 or the method in the contract, with incremental samples drawn across the lot to build an aggregate sample of the required weight. For quality, cartons are drawn at random using ISO 2859-1 or the buyer's plan, and a defined sample weight is examined for defects.

08Laboratory testing

Ochratoxin A
Pesticide residues
Moisture
SO2 for golden raisins
Yeast and mould
Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A by HPLC or LC-MS/MS
Yeast, mould and Enterobacteriaceae

Testing is coordinated through laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for the required method. See laboratory coordination.

09Food safety and quality risks

Ochratoxin A from mould growth during drying
Pesticide residues from vineyard spraying
Foreign matter from ground drying

10Packaging and labelling

Cartons of 12.5 kg and retail packs.

11Storage and transportation

Cool, dry storage; cold storage for longer holding.

12Pre-shipment inspection procedure

Review specification, size or count, moisture, colour and additive limits
Confirm the lot is finished, packed and coded
Draw cartons at random and build the laboratory aggregate sample
Examine defects, foreign matter, insects, colour and texture
Measure moisture on site and send samples for SO2, mycotoxins or residues
Check net weight, labelling and allergen declarations
Supervise container condition, loading and sealing
Issue an inspection report and attach laboratory results when received

13Relevant international standards

Dried fruit and nutsUNECE standards for dry and dried produceCommercial quality standards (DDP series) for products such as dried apricots, dried figs, raisins, hazelnuts and pistachios, including moisture and defect tolerances..EU food lawCommission Regulation (EU) 2023/915Maximum levels for certain contaminants in food, including mycotoxins, heavy metals, 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids.EU food lawRegulation (EC) No 396/2005Maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin.EU food lawRegulation (EC) No 1333/2008EU rules on food additives, including permitted uses and maximum levels such as those for sulphites in dried fruit..EU food lawRegulation (EU) No 1169/2011Food information to consumers: mandatory labelling particulars, allergen emphasis, nutrition declaration and origin rules..EU food lawCommission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006Methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of mycotoxin levels in foodstuffs.

Regulations are amended regularly. Always check the version in force for your destination market.

14Conformity TR services for sultana raisins

Food Inspection

Independent inspection of finished and semi-finished food products at Turkish suppliers, carried out against your specification, your label artwork and the rules of your market

Pre-Shipment Inspection

Final random inspection of food, produce and feed before it leaves the supplier, when the goods are packed and ready to load

Laboratory Coordination

Sampling and coordination of laboratory testing through competent external laboratories: microbiology, pesticide residues, heavy metals, mycotoxins, nutrition, moisture, foreign matter, authenticity and packaging migration

Supplier Audits

Supplier qualification, food safety audits, quality management system audits, GMP audits and GAP assessments for buyers sourcing from Turkey

Loading Supervision

Supervision of truck, reefer container, bulk vessel and flexitank loading, so the goods that were inspected are the goods that are shipped

Crop and Orchard Status Monitoring

Field visits to orchards, vineyards, greenhouses and farms for buyers who have contracted a future crop and want to see its condition before harvest, with dated photographs, video and a written status report

15Questions buyers ask

When is the season for sultana raisins in Turkey?

Drying in August and September; new crop ships from September. Typical window: August to October. Exact timing varies with region, altitude and weather each year.

Where are sultana raisins produced in Turkey?

Manisa (Alaşehir, Salihli, Sarıgöl), Denizli (Çal, Buldan) and İzmir.

Which laboratory tests are typical for sultana raisins?

Common tests include ochratoxin A; pesticide residues; moisture; sO2 for golden raisins. The right test plan depends on your specification and destination market.

What are the main quality and safety risks for Turkish sultana raisins?

Ochratoxin A from mould growth during drying. Pesticide residues from vineyard spraying. Foreign matter from ground drying.

Can Conformity TR inspect sultana raisins and supervise loading?

Yes. We inspect sultana raisins at the supplier against your specification, coordinate laboratory testing where required and supervise loading, with a photographic report to you the same day.

Contact

Request inspection for sultana raisins in Turkey

Send the product, supplier location and timing by email, phone or WhatsApp. We confirm scope, sampling method, laboratory plan and cost before any work starts.

Food-qualified inspector at the supplier
Report with photographs the same day
Independent of the supplier

Inspection request: Sultana Raisins

Email[email protected] Phone+90 533 283 05 79 WhatsAppMessage us OfficeBeştepe Mah. Nergiz Sok. Via Flat İş Merkezi 7/2 Kat:3 No: 87, 06560 Yenimahalle/Ankara

For a fast proposal, include the product and specification, supplier location, destination market and expected dates. We reply in English, usually within one business day.

Email your request Call +90 533 283 05 79