A new border crossing point for the Moldovan wines exported to Russia will be opened soon in Bryansk town, announced Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, who recently paid a visit to Moscow, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a press briefing, Valeriu Lazar said he had a meeting with the head of Russia’s food safety body Rospotrebnadzor Gennady Onishchenko, where they discussed details of the issue. After the border crossing point in Bryansk is opened, there will be four such points. Two are located near Moscow, while another one in Saint Petersburg. Valeriu Lazar said they agreed to hasten the process of accrediting the National Certification Institute, which will examine the quality of the Moldovan wine products, in the accreditation system of Russia. “This will enable to avoid the doubling of inspections and to reduce the costs for the Moldovan companies and will ultimately increase their competitiveness,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. The last aspect agreed with Gennady Onishchenko concerns the exchange of experience with Rospotebnadzor as regards the protection of consumers, given that the Agency for Consumer Protection was recently created in Moldova. Russia accounts for 27% of Moldova’s exports. The wine exports over nine months fell by 40%. Valeriu Lazar explained this is due to the fact that the Moldovan wine makers entered other, less traditional markets and that Russia earlier this year toughened up the licensing conditions for the importers of wine products. Restrictions were also imposed on some of the companies that did not adjust the quality of their products to the Russian requirements.