Russia Threatens to Halt Rice Imports from Pakistan Due to Safety Concerns
Published on: May 2, 2024.
Filed under:
Islamabad: Russia has issued a warning to Pakistan regarding their rice imports, stating that they may ban them if phytosanitary concerns are not addressed in future shipments. The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS) of the Russian Federation notified Pakistan about violations of international and Russian phytosanitary requirements in a recent shipment of rice.
The notification, dated April 2, 2024, highlighted the presence of a quarantine organism called “Megaselia scalaris (Loew)” in the rice consignment. In response, the FSVPS has requested an immediate investigation into the matter from the plenipotentiary and trade representative at the Pakistani embassy in Russia.
The Russian authorities have emphasized the importance of adhering to phytosanitary standards to ensure the safety of agricultural products traded between countries. They have asked the relevant officials in the Pakistani embassy to prevent such violations in the future.
The trade wing of the Pakistani embassy in Moscow has forwarded the English translation of the Russian authority’s letter to the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) in the Ministry of Food Security and other relevant government offices. They have requested an investigation to be conducted immediately and the results to be shared with the FSVPS to avoid any possible ban on rice exports in the future.
Additionally, the FSVPS has communicated with the director of DPP, seeking a higher degree of cooperation in the field of plant quarantine.
It is worth noting that Russia had previously imposed a ban on rice imports from Pakistan in 2019 due to similar concerns. The ban lasted for around two years and was lifted after negotiations between officials of both countries. In 2006, Russia also halted rice imports from Pakistan for not meeting food safety standards.
Source: [Times of Oman](https://timesofoman.com)
