Russia Bans Rice Imports
Russia has imposed a temporary ban on rice imports, citing quality concerns in Asian and U.S.-produced rice, agriculture officials said Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.
As of Monday Russia stopped issuing new and will invalidate previously given quality permits for all rice imports, said Alexei Alexeyev, spokesman for the Agriculture Ministry.
New certificates will be issued following tighter inspection. Alexeyev declined to say how long it may take to renew the permit, saying everything depended on the quality of the product.
This year agriculture officials have detected 2,000 tons of tainted rice from Pakistan, India, Thailand, China and Egypt, the Ministry said in a statement.
Authorities have also found U.S.-grown long-grain genetically modified rice which is below Russian consumer standards, it said.
Some market watchers have suggested the measure was aimed at favoring domestic over foreign producers.
Alexeyev denied that. “We are simply getting things in order,” he told The Associated Press. “I think this will benefit all producers and by making the rules of the game more clear — that consumer safety regulations must be followed.”
Critics have also accused Russia of imposing import restrictions with the aim of exerting political pressure. In spring, Moscow banned popular Georgian wine and mineral water citing impurities.
It had also banned Moldovan wines, but the ban was recently lifted.
Popularity: 1% [?]
You must be logged in to post a comment.