Belarus to introduce temporary licensing of tomato exports as of Nov

MINSK. Aug 22 (Interfax) - The Belarusian government is imposing licensing for tomato exports in the name of food security under a resolution signed by Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko and published on the national legal website.

The resolution, which goes into force on November 1 and will remain in effect until March 2, 2025, will require single-use licenses for exports of fresh or chilled tomatoes (EAEU customs code 0702 00 000) from Belarus to other members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), "regardless of their origin," and shipment "of the good outside the boundaries of the customs territory of the EAEU in the Republic of Belarus to countries that are not member countries of the EAEU with its placement under the customs procedure for export, temporary export, processing outside the customs territory and re-export."

The export restrictions will not apply to international transit shipments and products exported to provide international humanitarian aid.

Export permits may be refused if, on the day the paperwork for exports is submitted to the Agriculture and Food Ministry, locally produced tomatoes meet less than 70% of domestic market demand.

Belarus does not have any restrictions on tomato exports at the moment.