Government considers importing 110 thousand tonnes of wheat

The Government is planning to import 110 thousand tonnes of wheat to secure the country’s food supply. At the same time, 300-500 thousand tonnes of fodder for the livestock sector are to be imported. The Cabinet endorsed Wednesday, August 8, the Rules regulating imports and sales of certain types of grain and cereal products, which stipulate exempting these imports from customs duties and VAT on sales on Moldova’s territory. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Anatolie Spivacenco, told reporters that these rules would be into force up to August 1, 2008, and they stipulate tax relief for all the economic units, regardless of the property type. The document applies to imports of wheat, rye, wheat and rye flour, and of fodder for the livestock sector. Also, cereal products to reach the country as a humanitarian aid will be exempted from duty. No taxes to be applied even for homologation. According to Spivacenco, to secure the country’s food supply, about 350 thousand tonnes of food grain are necessary this year. He says that 190 thousand tonnes have been already piled up, the rest to come from the imports. Vasile Tarlev stated that Moldova is to buy wheat from abroad in order to replenish the state stocks, because the local farmers stored their wheat and do not wish to sell it, although the Government offered a good price, according to the Premier. The Prime Minister mentioned that in this case the necessary wheat quantities would come from outside the country at much lower prices, specifying that the wheat in Kazakhstan is being sold at present for 2500 lei/tonne, as compared to 3200 lei offered by the Government to the Moldovan farmers. The Government will hold on August 10 the second national tender to replenish the state material reserves with food grain. If the offers do not cover the required amount, as it happened at the first tender, the wheat will be bought from outside the country.