StormShadow
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KARACHI: Russia is learnt to have threatened that it may ban fruit imports from Pakistan because of their lower quality and unreliable quarantine standards.
According to sources, the Russian quarantine department recently sent a letter to its counterpart, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture's department of plant protection, complaining that the agreed upon quality was not being met.
Warning of possible restrictions, it also complained that the procedure for export of fresh fruits was not being followed.
Expressing serious reservations over the quality of fresh fruits, the Russian informed the authorities concerned that "a ban may be imposed" on imports from Pakistan if the issue of standard was not addressed soon.
According to an agreement between the departments concerned of the two countries, importable items such as fruit and vegetables would meet all quarantine and phyto-sanitary requirements.
Any delay or lukewarm response by Pakistani officials would result in severe financial repercussions, domestic fruit exporters said.
Highlighting the emerging critical situation, exporters feared that they might lose Russia, which was a valuable market.
The newest development comes soon after Pakistani traders lost the lucrative Iranian market in the wake of the imposition of sanctions imposed on commercial banks by the United States.
Pakistani exporters said that they were not being issued E-Forms for fruit exports to Iran.
Exporters of potatoes, sources claimed, had already faced losses after Moscow-based importers were reluctant to buy Pakistani product this year because of good crop in their own country. Besides, Pakistani Kinnow this year was also sold in Russia at reduced prices because of unchecked bulk export consignments sent abroad without examining potential demand.
Plant protection measures, protecting crops from damages by insects, diseases and weeds, were aimed at increasing the crop yields.
This also fulfils the country's international obligations, including adherence to the International Plant Protection Convention, which calls for phyto-sanitary inspections, treatments and certifications and fulfilment of quality and safety requirements, including pesticide residues, contaminants, genetic modification and pest risk analysis.
Quarantine issue: Russia threatens to ban fruit imports from Pakistan
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KARACHI: Pakistani exporters of potato are facing a loss of millions of dollars as Russia has stopped clearance of consignments after complaining that the potatoes from Pakistan are infected with a disease.
According to potato exporters, the situation demands immediate steps on part of the federal ministries of commerce and national food security and research.
The exporters say the quarantine department of Russia has raised questions over the efficiency of Pakistan’s quarantine department and has threatened to slap a ban on potato imports.
However, the exporters insist that the potatoes are healthy and are not infected with any disease, blaming the Russians for indulging in a propaganda campaign to protect their agriculture sector. They term the allegations a ‘non-tariff barrier’.
The exporters claim that a government laboratory, after conducting tests, has cleared potato of any disease.
A leading exporter told The Express Tribune that Russia permitted extensive imports of potato three years ago when its crop and fields were badly damaged by cold weather. Moscow then tried to introduce the condition of ‘minimum required liquid’ to restrict imports, but still it cleared Pakistani potato to meet its pressing needs.
Last year, a record 100,000 tons of potato was exported to Russia. So far this year, 50,000 tons have already been shipped.
Russia is also importing potato from the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, France and Egypt, leading to fierce competition.
The cost of imports has also gone high for Russian traders following a fall in the value of the ruble. Imports from Pakistan cost around $445 per ton.
Exporters have suggested that the government invite Russian quarantine experts to visit Pakistani farms, factories and warehouses to check potato quality themselves.
Russia stops clearance of Pakistani potatoes – The Express Tribune
