175 Moldovan companies able to export fruit and vegetables to Russia

Russia’s food watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor published the list of Moldovan companies that were authorized to export fruit and vegetables to the Russian Federation. The list includes 175 companies. Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov has told Info-Prim Neo that a new method of selecting exporters of fruit and vegetables to Russia was introduced this year. The companies accepted by the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture are to be approved by the Russian authorities. “The chairmen of exporters associations present the list of companies for which they are responsible and if something goes wrong they remove these companies from the list. Not the Ministry does it,” said Vasile Bumacov. He stated that there are six exporters associations in Moldova and each of them was allowed to present a list of 15 companies. “We compared the list with that of last year and excluded the companies that exported less than 500,000 tonnes. The decision was taken in a meeting with chairmen of exporters associations and exporters. The selected companies that will not export significant quantities will be struck off the list,” said the minister. According to Vasile Bumacov, every year Russia asks for a list of at most 50-60 exporters and negotiations are held every time to extend it to 170-175 companies. “Rosselkhoznadzor is in a way right when it imposes conditions as the Ministry supports the small companies that not always meet the requirements,” he said. He also said that in 2010, Moldova exported to Russia apples of US$52 million, and apricots and cherries of US$23 million, while the exports of vegetables were insignificant. Moldova produces 727,000 tonnes of vegetables, but experts only 30,000 tonnes, 16,000 tonnes of which are potatoes.