The Republic of Moldova is implementing the European Union’s quality requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables. The national norms are adjusted to the EU’s by a bill that was approved by the Cabinet. For the products that meet the quality requirements, a quality compliance certificate will be issued to the business entity at request, IPN reports.

Before the products are put into circulation, the imported consignments will be subject to a mandatory check, if they do not have an equivalent certificate. Before the products intended for export leave the country, at the request of the business entity the inspection body will check if these meet the quality requirements of the importing country.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment considers that when the document is adopted, it will contribute to enhanced product competiveness, larger quotas on the export to the EU and to a better image for the national producers.

The compliance with the community quality standards will enable Moldova to request the European Commission to put it on the list of third countries whose compliance checks are recognized as equivalent to the EU requirements.