The authorities aim to ensure a balance in the interests of national producers and importers so that high-quality products reach consumers. For example, in the case of products of animal origin, the import quotas are almost fully used. As a result, pressure is exerted on the national producers. Moreover, cases have been witnessed when the imports were of a doubtful quality. That’s why the competent authorities aim to strengthen the inspection capacities and to encourage local producers. Such statements were made in a roundtable meeting organized by the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the National Food Safety Agency, IPN reports.
Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac, Deputy Prime Minister, said measures are being taken to simplify the import and export of such products, but they do not want the quality of products to be neglected meanwhile. These products should meet all the requirements. The authorities aim to increase the interest of producers so that these satisfy the demand of products of animal origin on the domestic market and to orient the surpluses to export. Many local producers do not export to the EU because they want to avoid the relevant inspections.
Those who trade in imported products should make sure that the internal demand is satisfied with high-quality products. Some of the imported products are cheaper and the national startups are thus affected.
The existence of an association agreement or a free trade agreement with a particular country does not ensure the free movement of products based on common principles because the Republic of Moldova is not part of a common market, of the European market or of the CIS one. The goods are imported duty-free, but are subject to the other commercial policy measures, such as certification, quality inspection, customs audits and post-clearance.
Gheorghe Gaberi, director general of the National Food Safety Agency, said Moldova can now export only three types of products of animal origin to the EU – bee honey, whose exports last year came to about 3.6 tonnes, powdered eggs, which are not yet produced in our country, and aquaculture products (1 tonne). Efforts are being made to extend the list of products of animal origin that can be exported to the EU, such as chicken and milk products. Until then, some of the business entities that were assessed by foreign experts could be allowed to export such products.
The data presented in the event show the quotas on the import of products of animal origin in 2016 were almost fully used. There were imported 3,000 tonnes of pork, which is 75% of the quota, about 4,000 tonnes of chicken (100%) and 1,000 tonnes of milk products (100%). Of the quota of 1,700 tonnes of processed meat products, only 378 tonnes were imported.
Thus, imports from the EU in 2016 totaled over US$ 67 million, while those from the CIS, especially Ukraine, Belarus and Russia – about US$ 41 million. Imports from other countries of the region were lower in value.
