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Georgia's role in Turkish-Russian agriculture crisis
Georgia
Wednesday 25 June 2008
The Russian Federation on June 7 stopped importing five agricultural products -- tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, grapes and lemons -- from Turkey on grounds that they contain residues of agricultural chemicals. In May 2005, the Russian Federation banned the imports of several products from Turkey, claiming that they contained the Mediterranean fruit fly.
Of the 10 million tons of tomatoes it produces annually, Turkey exports 400,000 tons, with the Russian Federation being the top importer with 300,000 tons. In 2007 Turkey exported 34 percent of its fresh fruit and vegetables to the Russian Federation. Out of Turkey's fresh fruit and vegetable export revenue of US$1.5 billion in 2007, US$510 million was earned from imports to the Russian Federation while US$600 million came from imports to European countries. In the first five months of 2008, Turkey's fresh fruit and vegetable imports to the Russian Federation amounted to US$298 million. The problem Turkey is having with the Russian Federation with respect to insecticide residue on products may rear its head in regards to the European Union starting in September 2008. Although the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture has repeatedly declared that the standards applied in Turkey with respect to using insecticides are in harmony with the EU codex, the EU countries do not currently implement a common standard. However, such a common standard will start to be implemented within the EU starting in September 2008. If the necessary measures are not taken, we may encounter problems with the EU. Turkey will start to export grapes in two months. If an expedient solution cannot be found, the grape exports may pose problems as well. According to the demands of Russian officials, Turkey should be able to submit a product monitoring schedule to them that shows the origin of products and the wholesalers or other intermediaries involved in the sale of the products. This can be done only by implementing a bar-coding system among the producers. With a view to making Turkish fresh fruit and vegetables conform to exportability standards, the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is intent on ensuring that producers keep records of where their products are produced and which agricultural chemicals are used. However, it is said this project may bear fruit only after six months.
Of the 10 million tons of tomatoes it produces annually, Turkey exports 400,000 tons, with the Russian Federation being the top importer with 300,000 tons. In 2007 Turkey exported 34 percent of its fresh fruit and vegetables to the Russian Federation. Out of Turkey's fresh fruit and vegetable export revenue of US$1.5 billion in 2007, US$510 million was earned from imports to the Russian Federation while US$600 million came from imports to European countries. In the first five months of 2008, Turkey's fresh fruit and vegetable imports to the Russian Federation amounted to US$298 million. The problem Turkey is having with the Russian Federation with respect to insecticide residue on products may rear its head in regards to the European Union starting in September 2008. Although the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture has repeatedly declared that the standards applied in Turkey with respect to using insecticides are in harmony with the EU codex, the EU countries do not currently implement a common standard. However, such a common standard will start to be implemented within the EU starting in September 2008. If the necessary measures are not taken, we may encounter problems with the EU. Turkey will start to export grapes in two months. If an expedient solution cannot be found, the grape exports may pose problems as well. According to the demands of Russian officials, Turkey should be able to submit a product monitoring schedule to them that shows the origin of products and the wholesalers or other intermediaries involved in the sale of the products. This can be done only by implementing a bar-coding system among the producers. With a view to making Turkish fresh fruit and vegetables conform to exportability standards, the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is intent on ensuring that producers keep records of where their products are produced and which agricultural chemicals are used. However, it is said this project may bear fruit only after six months.
