Russian phyto-sanitary service, Food Safety Agency of Moldova resume talks on unlocking apple exports to Russian market

Chisinau, 28 January /MOLDPRES/ - The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phyto-sanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) and the Food Safety Agency of Moldova (ANSA) have resumed talks on lifting the embargo put on exports of Moldovan apples to Russia. According Rosselkhoznadzor, the negotiations were held at an initiative by the Russian side.

ANSA gave assurances that it would officially show the Russian inspectors the apples’ sanitary security guarantees, as well as a list of Moldovan farmers interested in exporting fruits to Russia, according to a press release by the Russian surveillance agency.

The sides agreed on Rosselkhoznadzor carrying out an audit of the system of certification of Moldovan fruits ,that would ensure the observance by exporters of both Russian and international phyto-sanitary requirements.

Moscow banned the import of fruits and canned goods from Moldova on 21 July 2014. Amid an embargo put on other products too, including alcoholic beverages, the exports form Moldova to the Russian market dropped by 31 per cent in the first 11 months of 2014.

Rosselkhoznadzor Head Sergey Dankvert  has recently expressed disapproval of an institutional reform in Moldova, as a result of which the Agriculture Ministry was no longer the institution in charge of food safety. In particular, Dankvert, during his last meeting with Minister Vasile Bumacov, showed dissatisfaction with the fact that the duties of food products' quality control had been assigned to a structure directly subordinated to the government, and not the Agriculture Ministry.

Economists, as well as producers said the prohibitions imposed by Moscow were political in essence and were announced in response to the ratification of the Association Agreement between Moldova and the European Union, which also included a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.