Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision, may from 21 October impose restrictions on the imports into the Russian Federation of all plant produce from Ukraine and coming through it, a press release from the Russian service says, RIA Novosti reported at 14:21 Kyiv time.
The service said on Tuesday, 14 October, that it suspected Ukraine of re-exporting vegetables and fruit from European Union countries to Russia, as a result of which a ban might be imposed. The suggestion was made in view of the recent increase in the volume of supply of these product categories from the neighbouring state.
“In view of this, Rosselkhoznadzor has asked the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine to provide information by 21 October 2014 about the volume of produce grown in Ukraine this year and the total area used for various crops in each region, and also to provide other solid guarantees of the Ukrainian origin of the plant produce that Ukraine supplies to Russia,” the press release says.
“If the Ukrainian side refuses to meet these demands or fails to provide the information about any consignment of produce, Rosselkhoznadzor reserves the right to introduce additional protective measures in the form of temporary restrictions on the import of plant produce both from Ukraine itself and coming through its territory,” Rosselkhoznadzor added.
The Russian service also noted the need to accompany each consignment of plant produce from Ukraine with origin certificates and the mandatory presence of markings on the packaging.
The Russian Federation earlier suspended the import of milk and dairy produce, cheeses, certain makes of alcohol, potatoes, soya, sunflower, tinned food, pork and beef from Ukraine. Rosslekhoznadzor has already warned of the possibility of imposing restrictions on the supply of fruit and vegetable from Ukraine to Russia, explaining it first by a quarantine disease (golden nematode), and then by the re-export of Moldovan fruit and vegetables through Ukraine.
