Thirteen Moldovan producers of fruits, grapes get certificates allowing them to export to external markets

Chisinau, 18 December /MOLDPRES/ - Thirteen producers of fruits and grapes today got GlobalGAP certificates, which will allow them exporting to external markets farming goods meeting food safety requirements. At the same time, two farmers will additionally get also the Global GRASP certificate, which confirms the social responsibility of agricultural companies.  

The USAID High Value Agriculture in Moldova project, in partnership with Kaufland Moldova, assisted farmers in implementing GlobalGAP requirements through training farmers and guiding them during all the process of adjusting the procedures of producing to the international standards.   

The observance of GlobalGAP standards represents a compulsory requirement for the farmers oriented to export to EU member states and a requirement for selling in the Kaufland network, which is extended in Moldova.  

The acting director of the USAID Mission in Moldova, Lynn Vega, said that “USAID will continue supporting Moldovan farmers, so that the local goods are competitive on international markets.”  

For his part, State Secretary General at the Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ministry Iurie Usurelu congratulated the farmers “for the first decision to aligning with international standards, which confirm the products’ security, traceability and special taste of the fruits and grapes produced in Moldova.”    

GlobalGAP comprises the entire process of production, beginning with the selection of the farmland to the delivery of fruits and vegetables to market. Thus, the implementation of the GlobalGAP standards makes the buyer be sure that the fruits and vegetables are safe for consumption. GlobalGAP refers to the production of vegetables and fruits, cultivation of cereals and flowers, breeding animals and poultry, aquaculture. Moldova’s legislation comprises more than 75 per cent of the GlobalGAP requirements, which, given that they are obligatory requirements, must be implemented by producers. At the same time, the GlobalGAP certificate is a precondition for the beneficiaries of subsidies.   

The GlobalGAP standards have been implemented during 15 years in Moldova and since them, about 30 agricultural producers have been certified and most of them yearly reconfirmed their meeting the concerned requirements.