ISLAMABAD: The Russians Federation Service of Sanitary and Phytosanitary has lifted the ban on Pakistani food products from February 24, said a notification of the service issued in Moscow.
It may be noted that the Embassy of Pakistan in Moscow made consistent efforts for removal of the blanket ban on all Pakistani agricultural products by Russian Federal Service 'Rosselkhoznadzor' since September 30, 2013, in view of unsatisfactory compliance of sanitary rules and procedures by Pakistani exporters, a message received here Tuesday from Moscow said.
In this connection, embassy officials held several meetings with the head of 'Rosselkhoznadzor', Dankvert Sergey Alexeevich for the removal of ban from all Pakistani agricultural products. As a result of these meetings, the partial lifting of the ban had been agreed upon as a first step and the import of the citrus allowed forthwith by the Russian side.
This partial lifting at the start of citrus season was not only unprecedented but very beneficial for Pakistani exporters who annually export citrus worth $20 million to Russia.
In his regard, a delegation of Russian Federal Service for veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance visited Pakistan in the 3rd week of January, 2014 to resolve all the issues related to the import of Pakistani agricultural products to Russian Federation and to enhance collaboration between the two countries in this field.
In a related development the Phytosanitary Surveillance informed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Government of Pakistan regarding its decision of lifting the temporary restriction on all plant products of high phytosanitary risk from Pakistan except potato from February 24, 2014.
It is hoped that the ban on potato import will be soon lifted as the embassy is actively engaged with the Russian authorities to resolve the issue.
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