Russian Food Ban

Russia Bans the Supply of Selected Fruits and Vegetables from Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey

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The list of new bans announced by Rosselkhoznadzor citing quarantine issues with supplies of vegetables and fruits to Russia as they unfolded this week.

– Ban on the supply of greenhouse tomatoes and peppers to Russia from the Fergana region of Uzbekistan due to the detection of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV);

– Ban on the supply of dried apricots and all plant products to Russia from the Fergana region of Uzbekistan after the discovery of a quarantine object – the khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Ev.) – in a batch of dried apricots for Russia and the EAEU member states;

– Ban on the supply of greenhouse tomatoes and peppers from the Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan due to the discovery of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) and for the same reason from the Navoi region of Uzbekistan;

– Ban on the supply of greenhouse tomatoes and peppers to Russia from the Armavir region of Armenia due to the detection of the Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) in a batch of products;

– Ban on the supply of apples and greenhouse tomatoes from Azerbaijan to Russia due to multiple violations of quarantine laws. This, according to EastFruit, will also affect a significant part of the supply of these products from Iran since a significant amount of Iran’s products enters Russia in transit through Azerbaijan;

– Ban on the supply of greenhouse tomatoes and peppers from the Izmir and Antalya provinces in Turkey due to the systematic identification of quarantine objects such as South American tomato moth (Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)), Western California (flower) thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis (Perg)), Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV).

– Ban, more than a month ago, on the imports of tomatoes and peppers from Grodno, Gomel, Minsk, and Brest regions of Belarus due to the detection of the Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV).

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Russia Approves New Food Security Doctrine

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Russian president Vladimir Putin has approved a new doctrine on the country’s food security, updating the previous decree from 2010.

The decree came into force from the day it was signed on January 20. Putin instructed the government within three months to develop and approve an action plan to implement the provisions of the new doctrine.

According to the new doctrine, “Russia’s food security is the state of the country’s socio-economic development, whereby the food independence of the Russian Federation is ensured, the physical and economic availability of food products that meet mandatory requirements is guaranteed for every citizen of the country, in volumes not less than rational food consumption standards needed for an active and healthy lifestyle.”.

In the previous version of the Doctrine, to assess the state of food security, the specific weight of domestic products in the total volume of commodity resources of the domestic market, taking into account carry-over stocks, was used as a criterion. In the new document, the approach has been changed: now food independence is defined as the level of self-sufficiency, which is calculated as the ratio of the volume of domestic production to the volume of domestic consumption of the products.

The document also highlights the interests of the state for the long term. Among them are the sustainable development and modernisation of agriculture and fisheries, agricultural production, feed, livestock breeding, seed selection. Also in the long term, the state is interested in banning the import of GMO, raising and breeding animals whose genetics were changed.

The document also sets thresholds for certain product groups, with self-sufficiency rates of at least:

  • 95% for grain;
  • 90% for sugar;
  • 90% for vegetable oil;
  • 85% for meat and meat products;
  • 90% for milk and dairy products;
  • 85% for fish and for fish products;
  • 95% for potatoes;
  • 90% for vegetables and melons;
  • 60% for fruits and berries;
  • 75% for seeds of the main crops of domestic selection;
  • 85% for table salt.

The previous version of the food security doctrine did not mention the category of fruits and vegetables.

www.iegvu.agribusinessintelligence.informa.com

Russia Allows Access to U.S. Peanuts

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On August 26, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) lifted the ban on the import of peanuts into Russia from the United States.

From May 1, 2015 the Rosselkhoznadzor introduced a temporary restriction on the import of U.S. peanuts into Russia. The reason was the excess of cadmium content in two shipments of US peanuts compared to the level acceptable by Russian standards.

www.east-fruit.com

TASS: Five Years of Food Embargo. Results and Growth Paths for Russia’s Agriculture

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Russia slapped a raft of measures against the European Union, the US, Australia, Canada and Norway in August 2014 in response to the EU’s and US’ sanctions, with the list expanded later by other countries. The so-called countersanctions ban imports of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat products from a number of countries to the Russian Federation. Representatives of departments and experts have told TASS about changes in the structure of Russia’s agriculture industry and about sectors that have gained traction over the past five years, as well as what goods will be substituted in the future.

According to the data provided by the Agriculture Ministry, Russia’s food imports dropped by 31.2% in the past five years from $43.3 bln in 2013 to $29.8 bln in 2018.

“In 2018, Russian food exports amounted to $25.8 bln in value terms compared with $16.8 bln in 2013. Exports of meat and fat-and-oil products, fish and seafood, processed products demonstrated a notable growth. Russia heads the list of biggest wheat suppliers and is among top three suppliers on separate goods items. The present international trade dynamics suggests that the country will become one of top ten global agriculture exporters in the midterm,” the ministry’s representative explained.

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Russia Prevents 3,000 MT of Illegal Imports Since Introduction of Sanctions

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Russian consumer safety watchdog, the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being (Rospotrebnadzor) has prevented shipments of more than 2,900 MT of products banned for import since sanctions were introduced, the watchdog said in a report on its website.

“Over the entire period of sanctions, at the checkpoints on the state border of the Russian Federation, the employees of Rospotrebnadzor prevented imports of more than 2,900 MT of prohibited goods,” the statement read.

Since the summer of 2014, 985 MT of import-banned products as well as goods lacking reliable information about their origin have been withdrawn from sale and destroyed.

According to the Rospotrebnadzor, vegetables and fruits accounted for more than half of such products (63%).

In addition, since the commencement of the sanctions, Rospotrebnadzor imposed administrative fines totaling about 866.5 mln rubles ($13.8 mln) on business entities that import and sell products banned for import.

In the summer of 2014, Russia banned imports of a number of food products from the United States, Norway, Australia, Canada and the EU countries in response to anti-Russian sanctions imposed over the situation in Ukraine. Since 2015, the products that have been subject to restrictive measures are destroyed.

www.tass.com

Russia Lifts Ban on Rail Transit of Sanctioned EU Products

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Russia has lifted the ban on transit traffic for a range of products that were previously sanctioned, including agricultural products and foodstuffs. The measure is effective per 1 July, subjective to certain conditions, reported by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.

The decision is considered a major breakthrough for Eurasian rail freight traffic. The transit of the products described was banned since August 2014 when originating from Europe, Norway, the US, Canada or Australia. The ban has had great impact on rail freight traffic between Europe and Asia, as Russia is one of the main transit countries on the New Silk Road. Until now, agricultural products, raw materials and foodstuffs could only be transported to China via routes bypassing Russia, resulting in much longer transit times.

It is important to note that the decree refers to rail and truck transport that enters the Russian territory in transit, on the way to a third country. Thus, the import ban is still in place for products of the type described when destined for the Russian market. With this distinction, the Russian government seems to respond to the growing demand of Eurasian transport services across its country. According to the Russian ministry, the new rules will allow for a volume increase by 82 thousand international transportations per year.

www.freshplaza.com

Russia Extends Counter-Sanctions Against US and EU Till 2020

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President Vladimir Putin has signed a law prolonging the embargo against Western countries that have imposed anti-Russia sanctions. Restrictions will be in force until the end of next year.

The document which was published on Russia’s official portal of legal information, reads: “To extend from January 1 to December 31, 2020 the operation of certain special economic measures stipulated by the presidential decree of August 6, 2014.”

Five years ago, the Kremlin banned imports of certain agricultural products, raw materials and foodstuffs from Western countries that target Russia with sanctions. They include the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia, Norway, Iceland, Albania, Montenegro, Liechtenstein, and Ukraine.

The embargo came in response to US and EU economic sanctions over Moscow’s reunification with Crimea and alleged involvement in the military conflict in eastern Ukraine. The restrictions targeted finance, energy and defense sectors of the Russian economy.

Mutual sanctions have been prolonged and extended since then, despite proving ineffective and harmful to the sides. On Thursday, the European Union extended economic sanctions against Russia for another year.

www.rt.com/business

Russia Lifts Stone Fruit Import Ban Regarding Serbia & North Macedonia

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Phytosanitary agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has released a statement that this Monday, Russia lifted its import ban on stone fruit from North Macedonia and Serbia.

Moscow had imposed the ban in August on some fruit from the two countries after it said it had found the Monilinia fructicola fungus in Serbian peaches and apricots and in batches of fruit from North Macedonia.

www.freshplaza.com

Belarus Halts Re-Export of Banned Fruit and Veg to Russia

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Following negotiations between the Rosselkhoznadzor and the deputy director of the Main State Inspectorate for Seed Production, Quarantine and Plant Protection, Belarus has stopped issuing certifications for banned fruits and vegetables from third countries in transit through Belarus, reports the Moscow Agency citing Rosselkhoznadzor official representative Yulia Melano.

However, those vegetables and fruits intended for consumption in Belarus will continue to be imported into the country, as the goal is to avoid illegal deliveries of such products to Russia.

On March 27, a meeting was held in Moscow between the head of the Rosselkhoznadzor and the deputy director of the Seed Inspectorate. The Russian institution drew attention to the problem of the re-export of banned products to Russia through Belarus with phytosanitary certificates issued by Belarus which, in many cases contain inaccurate information about the country of origin of the goods.

The Rosselkhoznadzor complained about the lack of statistics on the volumes of imported and customs-cleared products in Belarus and about the lack of a system to track the movement of goods. For this reason, it had called for measures and hinted at a possible ban on re-exports through Belarus.

www.freshplaza.com

Russia’s National Horticultural Union Asked to Ban Imported French Fries

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Russia imported 94 percent of its French fries in 2017 but has bought the necessary equipment to produce it locally, Russia’s National Horticultural Union head Sergey Korolev said. The new equipment allows production of 110,000 MT a year, while the market is 106,000 MT. That is why Russia’s National Horticultural Union sent a request to the Russian government to ban imported French fries.

“The introduction of restrictions on the supply of imported frozen French fries, according to the Union, will not only support domestic agricultural producers engaged in the production of raw potatoes, but will also contribute to the preservation of jobs at newly established processing enterprises, and will increase the safety and quality of the product,” Korolev said.

The first plant to produce French fries opened in April. Domestic production is expected to replace imported French fries and fully satisfy the country’s needs. Russia has been deciding how to respond to the new US sanctions imposed in April.

www.rt.com