Russia warns Pakistan of potential rice import ban due to safety concerns amid Russia-Ukraine war
Published on: May 2, 2024.
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Russia Warns Pakistan of Banning Rice Imports Over Safety Concerns | Russia-Ukraine War
Tensions have risen between Russia and Pakistan in recent diplomatic news regarding rice imports. Pakistan, renowned for its thriving rice industry, faces a potential setback due to concerns raised by Russia regarding the safety of their rice exports.
The Russian agency responsible for food safety checks, known as FSVPS, has issued a warning to Pakistan stating that they may ban rice imports if their concerns are not addressed in future shipments.
On April 2, 2024, a notification revealed that a bug called ‘Megaselia scalaris (Loew)’ was detected in a shipment of rice imported from Pakistan. Megaselia scalaris, popularly known as the ‘coffin fly’ or ‘humpbacked fly,’ is often found in decomposing organic matter, including animal remains and sewage. In certain cases, it can also infest stored food products, such as rice, posing a potential threat to food safety and hygiene.
The FSVPS has urged the trade representative from the Pakistani embassy in Russia to address this issue promptly. According to a document from the Russian authorities, the FSVPS has emphasized the importance of adhering to safety regulations for agricultural products traded between the two nations and urged the Pakistani embassy to ensure that such problems do not reoccur.
This is not the first instance of Russia banning rice imports from Pakistan. Similar health and safety concerns resulted in an import ban in 2019, and Russia previously banned rice imports from Pakistan in December 2006 for noncompliance with food safety regulations.
Chela Ram Kewlani, the head of the Pakistan Rice Exporters Association, has cautioned rice exporters to exercise caution when selecting and packaging rice for export. He noted that Pakistan has benefited from India’s decision to halt the export of certain types of rice last year. In December 2023, a prominent Pakistani rice trader shipped over 700,000 tons of rice, marking the highest monthly shipment for that fiscal year.
Overall, the rising tensions between Russia and Pakistan regarding rice imports highlight the significance of addressing food safety concerns and adhering to international safety regulations for agricultural products.
Source: [India.com](https://www.india.com)
