Glossary / Veterinary Border Control Post (VSKN)
Veterinary Border Control Post (VSKN) — explained
A Veterinary Border Control Post is an official inspection post at the country’s border, staffed by personnel of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, where document, identity and physical checks are carried out on imports or transit of live animals, animal products, animal by-products and animal feed.
The VSKN checks that animal-origin goods entering the country — live animals, meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, fish and seafood, hides and wool, and similar goods — come from an approved establishment, that the veterinary health certificate accompanying the shipment matches the consignment, and that the physical condition of the goods matches what was declared. Control posts are located at specific border crossings, ports and airports; not every entry point has a VSKN.
The inspection has three parts: document control (the presence and content of the veterinary health certificate), identity control (whether the information on the certificate matches the actual consignment) and physical control (including sampling, sensory examination of the product and, where necessary, laboratory testing). If any one of the three controls reveals a discrepancy, the consignment is not released.
Which product group can enter through which VSKN is determined in advance; an animal-origin product cannot be imported through a customs crossing that is not authorised for that product. For this reason, route planning is built around the entry point with the appropriate VSKN as soon as the type of product is confirmed.
When You Encounter It
Before an animal-origin consignment such as frozen fish, meat or a dairy product sets off, the VSKN through which the shipment will enter and that post’s appointment/capacity situation are clarified. The cold chain’s temperature records must be shown without any gap; if there is a gap or inconsistency in the records, the consignment may be subject to additional examination.
For consignments from which samples are taken, the goods are held at the VSKN or in an approved cold-storage customs warehouse until the laboratory result arrives; this waiting period depends on the laboratory’s own schedule and cannot be guaranteed in advance. We cover cold-chain and glaze-weight details specific to this process on our seafood import sector page.
What It Doesn't Cover
- VSKN inspection covers only product groups subject to veterinary control; non-animal products do not go through this gate, but through the general customs procedure applicable to their product group.
- A VSKN being authorised for certain product groups does not mean that post will accept every animal-origin product; the match between the product and the entry point must be verified in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
For which products is a Veterinary Border Control Post mandatory?+
It is mandatory for the import and transit of product groups subject to veterinary control, such as live animals, meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, fish and seafood, animal by-products and animal feed.
Is there a Veterinary Border Control Post at every customs crossing?+
No. VSKN directorates are located at specific border crossings, ports and airports; a shipment of animal-origin products must pass through a VSKN authorised for that product group.
What checks are carried out at a Veterinary Border Control Post?+
Three separate checks are applied: document control (the veterinary health certificate), identity control (whether the certificate matches the actual consignment) and physical control (including sampling where required).
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Let us apply the process we describe on this page to your own shipment as part of our Import Customs Clearance service — request a quote or ask us directly on WhatsApp.
Where This Term Comes Up in Our Work
Veterinary Border Control Post (VSKN) is one of the documents we track in our import customs clearance service.
Import Customs ClearanceCustoms and tax procedures for your incoming shipments from abroad.The Turkish original of this page was reviewed by our licensed customs broker. This translation is provided for information; the Turkish version prevails.
Source
Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Veterinary Border Control Post Directorates — The procedures and principles for veterinary controls are set out in the Veterinary Controls Regulation, published in the Official Gazette No. 30010 of 17 March 2017.
Last updated: September 27, 2026