Government proposes economic mechanism for protecting national meat producers

The special duty on the import of beef and pork into Moldova will be raised from 200 euros/tonne to 450 euros/tonne, while on poultry – from 100 euros/tonne to 300 euros/tonne, in accordance with the amendments to the law on the customs duty approved by the executive, Info-Prim Neo reports. Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Valeriu Cosarciuc, who formulated the amendments, said the measure was aimed at ensuring economic equity between the national meat producers and importers, at stimulating national meat production and gradually substituting imports. “If the farms that produce meat are not supported, they will not be able to cope with the unfair competition,” Cosarciuc said, adding that the increased special import duty on meat will not lead to higher prices of the meat products on the home market. “The importers declare very low prices in the customs: 9 lei per kilogram of poultry and 12 lei per kilogram of pork, but sell these products are the same prices as the national producers, the minister said. Asked what reaction the World Trade Organization could have to such a move, Valeriu Cosarciuc said the agreement signed by Moldova and the WTO envisions measures aimed at protecting the domestic market and the national producers that can be implemented when necessary. Premier Vlad Filat stressed that the measures to simplify the procedure for importing meat, to annul the import authorizations issued by a special commission and other measures taken by the Government did not produce results. The meat prices on the home market remain very high. The Premier said a final decision as regards the amendments will be taken by the Parliament.