Partial victory: Russia allows import of citrus fruits from Pakistan

Russian authorities allowed partial relaxation to a ban on import of agricultural products from Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: In yet another boost for Pakistani exporters, the Russian Federal Service of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Service, has lifted the ban on Pakistani citrus fruits from February 24, 2014, according to a notification of the service, said a press release received from Moscow on Tuesday.

It may be noted that the Embassy of Pakistan in Moscow was engaged with Russian authorities for removal of the blanket ban on all Pakistani agricultural products by Russian Federal Service ‘Rosselkhoznadzor’ since September 30, 2013, in view of unsatisfactory compliance of sanitary rules and procedures by exporters.

Pakistani officials held several meetings with the head of ‘Rosselkhoznadzor’, Dankvert Sergey Alexeevich, for the removal of ban from all Pakistani agricultural products.

As a result of these meetings, Russian authorities agreed to partial lifting of the ban as a first step and allow import of citrus fruits into Russia.

Partial lifting of the ban is very beneficial for Pakistani exporters who export citrus fruit worth $20 million annually to Russia, where it is a favourite with the consumers.

In this regard, a delegation of Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance had also visited Pakistan in the third week of the January, 2014, to resolve all the issues related to the import of Pakistani agricultural products to Russian Federation and to enhance collaboration between two countries in this field.

In a related development, the Phytosanitary Surveillance had informed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, government of Pakistan vide a letter sent through the Embassy of Pakistan regarding its decision of lifting the temporary restriction on all plant products of high phytosanitary risk from Pakistan except potatoes from February 24, 2014.

The phytosanitary inspection certificate is an official document issued by an exporting country’s agricultural authorities to verify a shipment has been inspected and is free from harmful pests and plant diseases.