+33 680 38 14 46
Russia's import ban provokes reaction
Russia
Monday 09 June 2008
Last Friday, Russia's agricultural regulator, the Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control Service (Rosselkhoznadzor), announced that it would suspend Turkish agricultural imports beginning June 7 following the discovery of high levels of chemical fertilizer in certain products. The agency said around 4 million tons of agricultural produce that Turkey exported to Russia in 2008 contained pesticides and nitrate traces in "amounts significantly exceeding the maximum permitted levels set by Russian law."
The news of an import ban on some Turkish agricultural products had immediate effects on agricultural wholesaling in the Turkish domestic market. A similar ban was imposed on Turkish products in 2005 by Russia. It lasted for four months and was applied upon detection of Mediterranean fruit fly larvae on some products imported from Turkey. Another crisis loomed in 2006; yet, the imposition of another ban by Russia was averted. Russia said at the time that tomato, zucchini, lemon and tangerine imports from Turkey during February 2006 were contaminated.
Speaking with Sunday's Zaman, Turgut Gür, chairman of the Foreign Economic Relations Board's (DEIK) Turkish-Russian Business Council, said Russia was one of Turkey's biggest trade partners -- with US$8-9 billion in total annual trade -- and that an interruption in this trade relationship would damage the Turkish economy, Turkish agricultural institutions and Turkish farmers. Highlighting the importance of Russia's location, he added, "Russia is an important trade partner for Turkey thanks to our relations as neighbors and ready means of transportation, such as sea freight."
Gür recalled the Eighth Turkish-Russian Intergovernmental Economic Commission meeting organized in Moscow in late May with the participation of Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Güler and Russian Energy and Industry Minister Viktor Hristenko, saying it was surprising to encounter such a reaction from Russia following such positive dialogue. At the meeting, issues involving inspection and shipping were discussed, Gür said.
The news of an import ban on some Turkish agricultural products had immediate effects on agricultural wholesaling in the Turkish domestic market. A similar ban was imposed on Turkish products in 2005 by Russia. It lasted for four months and was applied upon detection of Mediterranean fruit fly larvae on some products imported from Turkey. Another crisis loomed in 2006; yet, the imposition of another ban by Russia was averted. Russia said at the time that tomato, zucchini, lemon and tangerine imports from Turkey during February 2006 were contaminated.
Speaking with Sunday's Zaman, Turgut Gür, chairman of the Foreign Economic Relations Board's (DEIK) Turkish-Russian Business Council, said Russia was one of Turkey's biggest trade partners -- with US$8-9 billion in total annual trade -- and that an interruption in this trade relationship would damage the Turkish economy, Turkish agricultural institutions and Turkish farmers. Highlighting the importance of Russia's location, he added, "Russia is an important trade partner for Turkey thanks to our relations as neighbors and ready means of transportation, such as sea freight."
Gür recalled the Eighth Turkish-Russian Intergovernmental Economic Commission meeting organized in Moscow in late May with the participation of Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Güler and Russian Energy and Industry Minister Viktor Hristenko, saying it was surprising to encounter such a reaction from Russia following such positive dialogue. At the meeting, issues involving inspection and shipping were discussed, Gür said.
