​QUALITY STANDARDS OF MOLDOVAN PRODUCTS DELIVERED TO RUSSIA, PRESUPPOSED EXPORTS SUSPENDING – OPINION.

“Moldova’s failure to comply with Russian quality standards, gave sufficient reasons for introducing restrictions and even suspending import from Moldova”, believes Adrian Lupusor, Director of the Independent Analytical Center Expert-Grup.

“Introduction of sanctions by Russia was not a surprise neither for authorities, nor for agricultural producers or for civil society”, said Lupusor.

He believes that if the Republic of Moldova will ensure quality of the production, package and labeling of goods, Russia will have no reasons to ban Moldovan goods import.

“After signing the EU Association Agreement and appearance of the new formula of RM-EU relations, it became obvious that Russia had political motives too”, told Lupusor.

“The Moldovan authorities should have two priorities. Firstly, the exported products quality control system should be modernized according to the European and international standards, which means appearance of modern certified laboratories. The second priority is redirecting of trade flow, because until recently Russia the major sales market for Moldovan agricultural products”, underlined the economist.

According to him, the losses caused by Russia’s restrictions will be smaller than sanctions, imposed to winemakers in 2013.

“Some companies, specialized in import of fruit and vegetables from the EU countries, have been re-exporting it to Russia. The re-export accounted for 60% of the total volume of export, so Moscow’s restrictions will not seriously affect Moldovan farmers”, concluded Lupusor.

Infotag’s dossier: Beginning from July 21, the RosPotrebNadzor [Russian federal supervisory agency for consumer goods quality] has introduced restrictions on Moldovan fruit and vegetables imports, citing the failure to comply with Russian legislation in the field of quality and protection of consumer rights. Vasile Bumacov, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova, has said that if the prohibitive measures will be imposed on all the Moldovan fruits and canned fruit and vegetable products, the losses will account for over US$150 million.