MAGADAN, April 23. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary control authority (Rosselkoznadzor) plans to hold consultations with Poland after May 10 over possible ban of fruit and vegetable imports from that country, Rosselkhoznadzor head Sergei Dankvert told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.
“I think this issue will be discussed after May 10,” he said, adding that until such consultations were over it was early to speak about any possible measures Russian might take. The exact date however has not yet been appointed.
“We have notified them in line with the regular procedure. Now we must fix the date,” Dankvert noted.
According to earlier reports, Rosselkoznadzor said it might impose a ban on imports of fruits, vegetables and berries from Poland over excessive pesticide residue and nitrate contents. Ahead of a new season of rathe-ripes supplies from Poland, Risselkhoznadzor head Sergei Dabkvert asked Poland’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Marek Sawicki to take measures to improve the situation. “If no efficient measures are taken, Rosselkhoznadzor will have to look at imposing a temporary ban on imports of products of high phytosanitary risks from Poland, including via third countries, to protect Russia’s territories from phytosanitary threats,” Rosselkhoznadzor’s press service said on Tuesday.
Poland is a major exporter of fruits (primarily apples) to Russia. According to Poland’s official statistics, the country’s overall fruit and vegetable exports to Russia exceeds one billion euro a year.