MOSCOW – Russia is expected to lift a yearlong ban on rice imports fromPakistan as concerns about the grain phytosanitary standards have beenallayed, brightening prospects of reopening of $50 million market, agovernment official said on Monday.
The official at Trade Development Authority of Pakistan said Russiangovernment is likely to lift the ban on grain imports from Pakistan, asstate-owned Department of Plant Protection implemented the complianceprogram for export of rice to the Russian Federation“The implementation of compliance program will ensure export of pest-freegrains to Russia,” the official said, requesting anonymity.
The Department of Plant Protection has sent a detailed report to FederalService for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the RussianFederation, elaborating measures that have been taken to prevent theproliferation of the Trogoderma granarium, also called cabinet or khaprabeetle, in products supplied to milling, processing, storage, and packagingfacilities in Russia.
Earlier this year, Russia had imposed a temporary ban on import of ricefrom Pakistan on a claim that khapra beetle was found in a batch of rice.
This was despite the fact that the consignment was duly cleared by theDepartment of Plant Protection, which issues sanitary and phytosanitarycertificates to each grain consignment moving outside the country.
After the ban, Russian side had asked for information on measures taken toprevent the proliferation of the beetle in products supplied to Russia andinformation about zones in Pakistan free from the beetle.
“Russian side has been informed that there is no specific area in Pakistan,which is free from Trogoderma granarium beetle,” the official said.
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“The implementation of compliance program will help in exporting pest-freerice to Russian Federation. Russian side has also been requested for ameeting of experts of both sides too.” Pakistan exported approximately35,000 tons worth $40-50 million of rice and other grains to Russia perannum.
Rice is one of the main exports of Pakistan, fetching the country more thantwo billion dollars in a year. According to latest available numbers,exports from Pakistan to the Russian Federation in the month of July 2019increased 15.14 percent and equaled $24.15 million as opposed to $20.97 millionin the same month of the previous year.
Pakistan’s imports from Russia decreased from $23.95 million to $10.6 million,depicting a decline of 55.83 percent.
Bilateral trade fell 22.7 percent in July 2019 compared to the same monthof the previous year, reaching $34.73 million from $44.93 million. Monthlytrade balance amounted to $13.57 million in favour of Pakistan.
