Russia wants to resume conditional fruit, vegetables imports from Moldova

Chisinau, 10 December /MOLDPRES/ – Russia is prepared to permit import of fruits and vegetables from the Republic of Moldova, provided that these are domestic products of Moldova, stated on Friday for journalists the head of Russian federal phytosanitary surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor Sergei Dankvert, cited by TASS.

"Moldova wants to open Russian market immediately. We opened it enough, but for taking some decisions, we should see if there are stocks of fruit. I want to see where they are and how many tons are stored," said head of the Russian phytosanitary surveillance.

At the end of November, during a meeting in Moscow of Deputy Premier, Economics Minister Octavian Calmic and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, Russian Federation announced that it was ready to cancel the ban on import of phytosanitary products from Moldova.

In July, National Security Agency Food (ANSA) "presented evidence of Russian inspection of areas of the orchard, estimated production volume offered for export of about 100 manufacturers, potential exporters of fruits". Russian authorities were also informed about the measures taken by Moldovan orchardists on quality aspect of production assurance and safety.

Federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance had banned fruit imports from Moldova on 21 June, 2014. Russian authority explained its decision by the fact that Moldovan producers infringed phytosanitary requirements. After signing by Moldova the EU Association Agreement, Moscow introduced taxes on import of more products from Moldova. Chisinau described this decision as a political one. In the middle of 2015, exports were resumed by way of experiment, and the number of companies authorized to make deliveries to Russian market increased gradually. At the end of July, more than 40 companies from Moldova had the right to export fruits and berries on the Russian market, but most of these affairs were in Gagauzia and Transnistria.

Previously, about 93 per cent of exports of apples, estimated at $ 43.7 mln. and 80 per cent of plum exports, estimated at $ 21.1 mln. were directed to Russian Federation.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)