The solving of the problems faced by the Moldovan exporters depends on the improvement of the customs or fiscal administration, considers Dan Vulpe, co-author of the study “Internal barriers to trade in Moldovan fruit and vegetables – beyond simplistic approaches”. As regards the producers, the authors recommend them to associate so as to foster exports. Today, the exports of agrifood products represent 42-48% of all the exports of Moldova, IPN reports.
The study was made at the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, with support from UNDP Moldova. The barriers highlighted by exporters refer to the difficult procedure for obtaining documents for export, the excessive tax inspections and heavy fines, the illegal customs duties levied by some of the customs inspectors and the clearing procedure that lasts for too long.
As to the Russian market, which absorbs about 80% of Moldova’s agrifood exports, Dan Vulpe said that the number of consumers who change the open-air markets for supermarkets has increased. This fact implies special export requirements. The products must be sorted and calibrated, but in Moldova there are only five calibrating lines. There were already installed 100 refrigerators, but each company should have a calibrating line too.
According to Dan Vulpe, after Russia became a fully-fledged member of the World Trade Organization, foreign producers entered the Russian market and the competition there became stiffer. As regards the authorities, they should simplify the legislation concerning the obtaining of export documents. The rise in subsidies, which is needed, but not possible at present, should be substituted by other possibilities, as for example permission to pump underground water for irrigation free of charge. The methodology of homologating certain sorts of fruit and vegetables should be reviewed.
Attending the national meeting of exporters, where the study was presented, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov said the Ministry is making effort to remove the existing barriers and to increase the sales of Moldovan products abroad. Customs Service director Tudor Balitski said the time indicators for the clearance procedure improved. The procedure now lasts for less than 30 minutes and will be further reduced.
