Russian watchdog concerned about imports of embargoed agricultural products via Kazakhstan
MOSCOW. Oct 9 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) is concerned about imports of embargoed agricultural products that enter Russia through Kazakhstan.
The head of Rosselkhoznadzor, Sergei Dankvert, expressed his concern during an online meeting with the head of Kazakhstan's Agriculture Inspection Committee, Darkhan Abdikarimov, the Rosselkhoznadzor press service said in a statement.
Dankvert "expressed concern about reported cases of the imports of sanctioned products originating from the United States, Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands to Russia via Kazakhstan," it said.
The cause for concern was previously reported cases of the movement of plant products, namely Polish pears and pistachios and almonds from the United States intended for transit. The sanctioned products were returned to Russia accompanied by Kazakh phytosanitary certificates, which incorrectly declared the origin of the products, the watchdog said.
"Such cases could have arisen due partly to the absence of information systems in Kazakhstan to control the movement of products in the republic. In Russia, Rosselkhoznadzor's information systems can track both incoming and outgoing goods," Rosselkhoznadzor said.
To ensure phytosanitary and food security in Russia and conduct a full investigation into these cases, Rosselkhoznadzor asked the relevant body in Kazakhstan for details about where pears imported into the republic in 2024 were sold and put into free circulation, with documents confirming secondary phytosanitary quarantine control.
Rosselkhoznadzor said supplies of these fruits to Russia from Kazakhstan had increased fourfold.
The sides also discussed "mutual deliveries of agricultural products" during the meeting, according to the statement.
The food embargo was imposed by a Russian presidential decree No. 560 of August 6, 2014 on special economic measures to ensure Russia's security and which prohibited imports of agricultural produce and food from countries that introduced or supported anti-Russian sanctions in connection with the reunification with Crimea.
The embargo originally affected sanctioned goods originating from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Norway or Canada. The food embargo list was expanded to include Albania, Montenegro, Iceland, and Liechtenstein starting August 13, 2015 after they had joined the anti-Russian sanctions. Ukraine was included in the embargo list on January 1, 2016. Goods from the United Kingdom, which by then had left the EU, were embargoed beginning on December 2020.
The embargo has been extended annually but this year it was extended for two years, until December 31, 2026.
