The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) of Russia will retain the ban on rice imports from Vietnam, India and Pakistan, imposed in early December 2006, the Russian Interfax newswire quoted Sergey Dankvert, Director of VPSS, as saying.
Sergey Dankvert said the Government of Russia will not import rice until rice supplying countries provide enough information about how they control their export rice quality, about laboratories and quality certificates.
“Experts of VPSS want to come to the countries to learn about rice production but they are not invited. We have to wait until import licenses are granted,” said Mr Dankvert.
He added that the inspection conducted by Russia in Thailand showed that Russia has every reason to be worried about rice quality. Thailand does not have any system for controlling additives that may harm human health.
Russian authorities decided to temporarily prohibit rice imports from several countries, including Vietnam, reasoning that the product cannot meet the quality set by Russia and may contain substances harmful to human health. The ban has come into effect since December 4, 2006.
The Vietnam Food Association (Vietfood) recommended that its members not export rice to Russia.
The Ministry of Trade of Vietnam has sent a diplomatic note to the Russian Commercial Affairs Section in Vietnam, requesting the Russian side provide information and proof to show that Vietnam-made rice contains grass weeding substances. The ministry also asked the Russian side to give an official answer about the ban on rice imports from Vietnam.
In fact, Vietnam’s rice export has not been effected much by the ban, as Russia is not a main export market for Vietnam. Every year, Vietnam exports 100,000 tons of rice maximum to Russia, and the figure was only
62,000 tons in 2006.
Regarding the Russia’s rice imports, the country’s Ministry for Economic Development and Trade may raise tax on rice imports from Euro70/ton to Euro120/ton, which will be implemented in two phases, March 1 – May 31, 2007, and October 1 – December 31, 2007. The move aims to protect local rice producers.
(VietnamNet)
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