Russian government officials have announced the nation is lifting restrictions on the import of a number of fruits and vegetables from Turkey. The country said it was set to lift restrictions on the import of peppers, pomegranates, grapes, oranges and grapefruits produced in Turkey, in a statement issued by the Federal Service for Supervision of the Consumer Rights and Human Well-Being (Rospotrebnadzor).
The decision follows a “thorough study…. on the supply of high-quality and safe fruit and vegetable products to the Russian market,” the institution said, which found “no excess of the maximum permissible levels of harmful substances.”
For a number of years, Russia has intermittently banned or restricted fruit and vegetable imports from Turkey, citing the levels. The move has had a huge effect on the Turkish economy with Turkey topping the list of Russia’s import countries in January 2022 with $4.6 billion, according to official data.
Most recently in February, the Russian news agency Interfax said the country may increase the tomato import quota from Turkey, which is currently 300,000 tons, to 350,000 tons. Turkey’s sector representatives have long been arguing that the quota should be lifted completely. Turkey generated $363 million (TL 4.89 billion) in revenue from 623,000 tons of tomato exports in 2021. About half of the said exports were made to Russia.
Source: ahvalnews.com