Lentil Inspection in Turkey
Turkey is a major red lentil producer and processor. Southeast Anatolia grows red lentils, and Turkish mills also process imported lentils into split and football lentils for export, which makes origin verification part of the job.
- Season
- May to July
- Main regions
- Southeastern Anatolia, Central Anatolia
- Category
- Grains and Pulses
- Key tests
- Pesticide residues including glyphosate; Heavy metals
01Product overview
- Red lentils: whole (football) and split
- Green lentils, large and small
- Processed by cleaning, dehulling, splitting, sorting and polishing
02Turkish production regions
Red lentils: Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Mardin, Diyarbakır, Adıyaman. Green lentils: Yozgat, Konya, Kırşehir.
03Harvest and production season
Red lentil harvest in May and June; green lentils in July.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May, in season
- June, in season
- July, in season
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
Typical window: May to July. Timing shifts with altitude, variety and weather. See the full Turkish harvest calendar.
04Export characteristics
Exported to Iraq, the Middle East, Europe and Africa in bags and retail packs.
05Typical quality parameters
| Parameter | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Size | Diameter or sieve size |
| Colour | Uniform for the type |
| Moisture | Maximum |
| Defects | Broken, damaged, discoloured, unhulled |
| Foreign matter | Stones, other seeds, glass, metal |
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
- Stones and mud balls
- Insect damaged seeds (bruchids)
- Unhulled grains in split lentils
07Sampling methods
Sampling follows GAFTA sampling rules, ISO 24333 or the method agreed in the contract. For bagged cargo, bags are sampled with a sampling spear across the lot; for bulk, samples are drawn from the moving stream during loading or from the stack. Samples are sealed in sets for buyer, seller and arbitration where required.
08Laboratory testing
- Pesticide residues including glyphosate
- Heavy metals
- Moisture
- Microbiology
- Moisture and test weight
- Protein
- Mycotoxins (aflatoxins, DON, OTA, zearalenone)
Testing is coordinated through laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for the required method. See laboratory coordination.
09Food safety and quality risks
- Pesticide residues, especially pre-harvest desiccants
- Stones and foreign matter
- Origin documentation
10Packaging and labelling
PP bags of 25 to 50 kg, retail packs.
11Storage and transportation
Dry, pest-controlled storage.
12Pre-shipment inspection procedure
- Agree specification and sampling method, including GAFTA or contract rules
- Verify lot identity, warehouse, bag count or bulk quantity
- Draw and seal representative samples
- Examine physical quality: foreign matter, broken kernels, insects, odour
- Run on-site moisture and test weight where applicable
- Send samples for protein, mycotoxins, residues or functional tests
- Supervise weighing, loading and hold or container condition
- Issue inspection and weight reports
13Relevant international standards
Regulations are amended regularly. Always check the version in force for your destination market.
14Conformity TR services for lentils
Agricultural Commodity Inspection
Quality and quantity inspection of grains, pulses, oilseeds, meals, feed ingredients and cotton under GAFTA, FOSFA, ICA or contract rules
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
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
Loading Supervision
Supervision of truck, reefer container, bulk vessel and flexitank loading, so the goods that were inspected are the goods that are shipped
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
Quality Control
Pre-production, during-production and continuous quality control at Turkish food and feed factories, so problems are corrected while there is still time
15Questions buyers ask
When is the season for lentils in Turkey?
Red lentil harvest in May and June; green lentils in July. Typical window: May to July. Exact timing varies with region, altitude and weather each year.
Where are lentils produced in Turkey?
Red lentils: Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Mardin, Diyarbakır, Adıyaman. Green lentils: Yozgat, Konya, Kırşehir.
Which laboratory tests are typical for lentils?
Common tests include pesticide residues including glyphosate; heavy metals; moisture; microbiology. The right test plan depends on your specification and destination market.
What are the main quality and safety risks for Turkish lentils?
Pesticide residues, especially pre-harvest desiccants. Stones and foreign matter. Origin documentation.
Can Conformity TR inspect lentils and supervise loading?
Yes. We inspect lentils at the supplier against your specification, coordinate laboratory testing where required and supervise loading, with a photographic report to you the same day.
Request inspection for lentils 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: Lentils
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.