Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Valeriu Cosarciuc, in a n news conference, presented a letter sent by Russia's food safety body “Rospotrebnadzor”, which makes no mention of the fact that heavy metals and pesticides had been discovered in the 47 tones of Moldovan wine stopped at customs. “The only objection was that the wine was muddy and contained sediment,” the minister said, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. In such situations, according to the agreements reached earlier, the wine is tested at an independent laboratory in Russia. A group of Moldovan experts will soon travel to Russia to discuss the issue. During the first two months of this year, the Moldovan companies exported alcoholic drinks to the value of US$20 million, up US$3 compared with the corresponding period last year. “This shows that no problems were encountered in exporting alcoholic beverages to the Eastern markets,” Valeriu Cosarciuc said.