Fruit and vegetables exporters complain of excessive customs proceedings

Exporters of fruit and vegetables are complaining of excessive customs bureaucracy, saying that often they have to wait at the border for as many as two days to undergo customs proceedings that normally take two hours. According to a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Vasile Bumacov noted at a meeting of the task-force created to examine the situation of fruit and vegetables exporters that these exports produce a significant share of revenues to the state budget. The exporters attending the meeting also complained of frequent and lengthy fiscal inspections as another impediment to exports. Further, they complained that a number of firms is trying to exert monopoly power over small exporters and impose their own rules of play. Minister Bumacov condemned these practices and artificial restrictions as “harmful and unjustified”, and ordered the opening of a hotline that exporters could call to signal all the violations. Meanwhile, complaints may be sent by email at export@maia.gov.md.