Ministry Opens Sixth Animal Movement Inspection Station

November 6, 2026 · Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has launched its sixth veterinary road control station in Istanbul's Riva district, established to monitor animal movements and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Sixth Control Station Opened in Istanbul

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has added a new facility to its planned road inspection stations, aiming to continuously monitor live animal movements and prevent the spread of contagious animal diseases. Following the previously operational inspection points in Erzurum, Elazığ, Kayseri, Çankırı, and Ankara, the Marmara Veterinary Road Control and Inspection Station began its service with a ceremony in Istanbul's Riva. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that the targeted network of 8 stations is nearing completion, providing the following information:

'I had stated that this would reach 8 stations across Turkey. Today, with our station in Istanbul, we are putting the 6th into service. The remaining 2, in Çanakkale and Mersin, will hopefully become operational soon.'

Recent Increases in Animal Population Recorded

With the implementation of the Ministry's 2024 livestock roadmap on the ground, a significant increase in Turkey's live animal population has been reported. According to Ministry data, the cattle population across Turkey increased by 7.7% between December 2023 and June 2026. During the same period, the small ruminant population expanded by 16%. Minister Yumaklı emphasized that the ultimate goal of the implemented policies is not just numerical growth, but strengthening the efficient and sustainable farm structure is the primary priority.

Preventive Steps in Combating Infectious Diseases

Ministry officials stated that the fight against animal diseases is conducted not only after outbreaks occur but through direct preventive veterinary measures. In this context, it was reported that the severe Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in 2025 was brought under control in a short period of four months. Evaluating the situation, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı pointed to the contribution of producers, saying:

'Of course, we owe gratitude to all our breeders and producers who contributed to this success, and I want to express this before you. However, we do not see this success solely in the increase of animal numbers. I want to state that. Our main goal is healthy animals, strong farms, and efficient, sustainable agricultural production. One of the most important conditions for this goal is the fight against animal diseases.'

New Targets in Domestic Vaccine Production

The Ministry announced that it is accelerating its infrastructure work to strengthen vaccine development and diagnostic capabilities. It was announced that the process of obtaining the internationally recognized GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certificate for the FMD Institute has been completed. Simultaneously, the installation of new vaccine production facilities is ongoing at the veterinary control institutes in Etlik, Ankara, and Pendik, Istanbul. Furthermore, laboratory studies to combine sheep and goat pox vaccines with peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccines into a single product have successfully concluded, and field trials are now underway. The completion of the combined vaccine aims to provide operational and financial advantages for livestock farms.

Vaccinations and Support for Producers

The positive results of vaccination programs implemented in the field to prevent the spread of diseases were shared with the public. Providing information on the field data obtained, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made the following statements:

'We achieved a 68% reduction in sheep and goat pox outbreaks, a 70% reduction in Bluetongue disease, and a 40% reduction in sheep and goat pox. Those within the sector know how important this is. Again, for the first time this year, we have included animal waste, regardless of its cause, within the scope of support. Therefore, we will be making waste support payments of 20,000 Turkish Lira per calf and 40,000 Turkish Lira per lamb/kid that could not survive. This is also an important aspect of supporting our producers.'

Additionally, 2.4 million doses of antiserum against septicemia have been procured to minimize newborn calf mortality, and vaccination and identification (ear tag) costs will not be charged to producers.

Penalties Applied at Inspection Stations

The scope of inspections conducted to date at the operational control stations was conveyed with Ministry data. It was reported that a total of 48,853 transport vehicles and 7.5 million live animals were examined at the 5 previously opened centers. Non-compliance with regulations was detected in 2,204 transport vehicles and 22,817 animals during these examinations. A total of 36 million Turkish Lira in administrative fines was imposed on transport vehicles attempting to evade road control points by using bypass routes. It was emphasized that these field inspections aim to protect producers who strictly adhere to the rules and to prevent unfair competition in the market.

Disease-Free Status of the Thrace Region

It was stated that the Marmara station, which has become operational, will play a critical role in maintaining the veterinary health status of Thrace. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) regulations, the Thrace Region and the European side of Istanbul have the status of a vaccinated and disease-free region for Foot-and-Mouth Disease. Minister Yumaklı stated that inspecting live animal shipments from Anatolia to Thrace at this station is a mandatory measure for biological security. It was reported that the site allocation and infrastructure work for the facility were completed in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and thanks were extended to the supporting institutions.

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