Quotas on agricultural seed imports to Russia could be imposed from Feb 1 - Econ Ministry

MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Quotas on imports of some types of agricultural seeds from unfriendly countries to Russia may be introduced in the period from February 1 to December 31, 2024, the press service for the Economic Development Ministry told Interfax.

A proposal by the Agriculture Ministry on temporary quantitative restrictions on the import of certain types of agricultural seeds was supported by the subcommittee on customs-tariff and non-tariff regulation, protective measures in foreign trade (December 2023).

"In particular, there are plans to impose in the period from February 1 through and including December 31, 2024 volumes of quantitative restrictions on import of certain types of seeds from unfriendly countries to Russia. Specific parameters of the planned restrictions will be determined by a decree of the Russian government, which is being drawn up by the Agriculture Ministry," the press service said.

As reported, the Ministry of Agriculture proposed introducing quotas from January 23, 2024. This was provided for in the draft government resolution, posted on the regulation.gov.ru website in December 2023.

According to the document, the quota for import of potato seeds was proposed to be set at 16,000 tonsne, barley - 600 tonnes, corn - 5,000 tonnes, including 600 tonnes for waxy corny, rapeseed (hybrids) - 2,000 tonnes, sunflower (hybrids) - 7,500 tonnes, sugar beet (hybrids) - 2,000 tonnes. The quota for wheat, rye and soybeans is zero.

In June this year, the Russian government approved a list of agricultural seeds on which quantitative restrictions on imports may be imposed. It includes potato, wheat, rye, barley, corn, soybean, rapeseed, sunflower and sugar beet seeds.

The size of quotas and the rules for their distribution are entrusted to the Agriculture Ministry.

The quota is aimed at accelerating import substitution in such a fundamental segment of agriculture as seed production, the Agriculture Ministry said. "Decisions will be based on the results of harvesting and formation of the seed fund, assessment of the domestic market's need for seeds for each specific crop," the ministry explained earlier. "The volumes of imported seeds will be flexibly regulated and in the future quota volumes will be reduced gradually over three years as domestic production increases," the ministry said.