The EU import quotas on Moldovan products will be doubled from August 1, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Ciolos announced in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, IPN reports, quoting a communiqué of the Government’s press service.

According to the European official, the European Union decided to double the quotas on the duty-free imports negotiated within the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU. The quota on apples will be raised from 40,000 to 80,000 tonnes, on plums – from 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes, while on grapes from 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes.

It was agreed that the DCFTA will be implemented from September 1, not from October 1, as decided initially. But, given the latest developments, the Moldovan producers will be allowed to export within these quotas starting with August 1. Even if the decision is formalized by the European Commission in September, the customs duties paid by the Moldovan exporters to the EU after August 1 will be refunded.

In the immediate period, the European Commission will identify financial resources from the European funds that will be disbursed to Moldova this year and will direct them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry for supporting the Moldovan fruit producers so that they can store the products until they are sold.