Russia's decision to impose an embargo on Moldovan fruits and vegetables is unfounded and has nothing to do with the quality of products from Moldova - the National Food Safety Agency.
This was stated by the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA), noting that Moldovan fruits and vegetables are exported to more than 80 countries, and this year the volume of exports of plums and apples to European countries has doubled. At the same time, no violations were identified in any country, with the exception of Russia. The National Food Safety Agency believes that the decision of the Russian authorities to impose an embargo on Moldovan fruits and vegetables contradicts international phytosanitary principles and is not supported by any real arguments. In the European market, with its strict requirements for product quality, the demand for Moldovan fruits and products is growing. Laboratory findings indicate the absence of these harmful organisms in the analyzed batches of products. The National Food Safety Agency believes that the Russian embargo has nothing to do with the quality of products from Moldova. The department noted that on November 30, a press release was published on the Rosselkhoznadzor website about the introduction of an embargo on the import of fruits and vegetables from Moldova from December 4. According to the National Food Safety Agency, it was not officially notified by the Russian authorities of its intention to introduce any restrictions until December 1. Rosselkhoznadzor claims that a number of pests (Grapholita molesta, Frankliniella occidentalis, Bactrocera dorsalis, Frankliniella occidentalis, etc.) banned in the states of the Eurasian Economic Union were found in Moldovan products. “We consider the accusations to be unfounded and hasty, since Rosselkhoznadzor was promptly informed about the actions of the Moldovan authorities on the first 5 notifications through an official response, accompanied by laboratory reports confirming the absence of these pests in shipments of fruits and vegetables,” the National Food Safety Agency said. The agency reported that in 2023 it did not receive a single notification of problems with Moldovan products. And in just the last 2 months, the National Food Safety Agency received 8 notifications from the Russian authorities, 3 of which were received between November 24 and November 29. The National Food Safety Agency has responded to all of them and the last 3 are under review and official responses will be sent as soon as laboratory results are received. The National Agency for Food Safety regrets that Rosselkhoznadzor uses levers that contradict sanitary and phytosanitary principles and have a purpose other than protecting consumers and the Russian agricultural industry. // 01.12.2023 – InfoMarket.
