A number of 205 fruit and vegetable growing companies of Moldova as of January 30 can export products to the Russian Federation. A number of 129 companies could export so far, but the figure was now raised to 334. “Practically all those who asked for access to the market of the Russian Federation were accepted,” Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ion Perju was quoted by IPN as saying in a news conference.

“Moldova Fruct” Association president Vitalie Gorincioi said that 66 producers from the new list are members of the Association. When the producers offer high-quality goods, no problems are encountered. “No matter where we send our products to, these should be of a higher quality and they will be bought. We experienced very big problems last year when products of a very poor quality were transported over the Nistru, with the vehicles being unloaded and reloaded with Polish or Ukrainian products there,” stated Vitalie Gorincioi.

National Food Safety Agency director general Vladislav Cotici said that over 1,700 sanitary certificates for the export of fruit from Moldova to Russia have been issued so far this year. More than 170 companies, including from the Transnistrian region, last year sold their products to Russia, mainly fresh apples, apricots, cherries, nectarines, plums and pears.