Fruit and vegetable exports from Pakistan will temporarily be banned from entering the Russian market, according to the Business Recorder.
The lock out came into effect 1 October, with Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance imposing the restrictions after Pakistani exporters were found to have systematically violated international and Russian phytosanitary requirements, agreed to under the Commission of the Customs Union.
“Introducing temporary restrictions on imports from Pakistan on the territory of the Russian Federation of regulated products of high phytosanitary risk,” the Federal Service said in a statement.
Pakistan exports close to US$170m worth of fruit and vegetable products to Russia each year, with kinnows, mangoes and aaloo making up the majority of shipments.
Spokesman of All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association, Waheed Ahmed, told the Business Recorder was initially issued on September 20, however Pakistan quarantine authorities are yet to take notice.
He urged the country’s Ministry for National Food Security and Research to take immediate action and redirect exports bound for Russia.
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