Russia Threatens Ban on Pakistani Rice Imports Due to Violation of Phytosanitary Standards
Published on: April 29, 2024.
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Russia Warns of Potential Ban on Pakistani Rice Imports
In May 2019, Russia imposed a ban on the importation of Pakistani rice due to the presence of the Khapra beetle in a shipment of rice from Pakistan. After a two-year ban, Pakistan now faces another warning from Russia, suggesting a possible ban on rice imports in the near future. This time, Moscow has raised concerns about ongoing phytosanitary issues.
The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS), also known as Rosselkhoznadzor, which is responsible for regulating veterinary and phytosanitary matters in Russia, has discovered violations of international and Russian phytosanitary requirements in a recent shipment of rice. As a result, the FSVPS issued a notification on April 2, 2024.
In the notification (FS-SA-3/6592), Rosselkhoznadzor highlighted the presence of the quarantine organism “Megaselia scalaris (Loew)” in the rice consignment. In response, the FSVPS has requested the plenipotentiary and trade representative at the Pakistani embassy in Russia to investigate the matter. The notification also urged the representative at the Pakistan embassy to prevent such violations in future shipments.
Promptly responding to the notification, the trade wing of the Pakistani embassy in Moscow forwarded the English translation of the Russian authority’s letter to the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) in Pakistan. The DPP, a regulatory authority operating under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, is responsible for ensuring plant health and the quality of agricultural produce. The embassy also shared the letter with relevant government offices in Pakistan.
The Pakistani embassy’s letter to the DPP stated, “In view of the above, it is requested that an investigation may be conducted immediately and the results of the investigation may please be shared with FSVPS in order to avoid any possible ban on rice exports in the future.”
Furthermore, the FSVPS has directly contacted the director of the DPP, emphasizing the need for increased cooperation in the field of plant quarantine.
Conclusion
It is crucial for Pakistan to address the phytosanitary issues raised by Russia in order to prevent a potential ban on rice imports. Cooperation between the relevant authorities in both countries is necessary to resolve the concerns and ensure the safe and compliant export of rice from Pakistan to Russia.
Source: WIONews
