Russia lifts restrictions on Turkish fruit and veg imports

Russia has finally given permission for the import of fresh produce such as pomegranates, eggplants, zucchinis, peppers and lettuce from Turkey. The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has authorised imports of a number of Turkish agricultural products without restrictions from 5 March.

The news is favourable for Turkish fresh fruit and vegetable exporters and producers, as Russia remains the major importer of fresh Turkish fruits, vegetables and citrus products.

According to an article on realnoevremya.com, in the first two months of 2018, Turkey's export of fresh produce to Russia totalled $184 million of a total overall export volume of $677 million. Turkey's fresh fruit and vegetable exports to Russia increased by 65% in January-February 2018 compared to the same period of the previous year.

''The restrictions on our fresh produce have started to gradually be lifted. As Turkish exporters, we welcome the recent step taken,'' commented Chairman of the Western Mediterranean Exporters' Association Mustafa Satıcı. He added that restrictions on tomato exports should be terminated as well. (The ban on supplies of fresh tomatoes, one of Turkey's most important agricultural products, was lifted on 1 November 2017, but Russia implemented a company quota. So at the moment, only a few Turkish companies are approved for exporting tomatoes). ''Our exporters will start shipping as soon as possible, bringing the export figures back to their former level and then raising them," Satıcı said.