RUSSIA: Russian authorites lift ban on fruits and vegetables imported from European Union

Record ID: 561923

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian authorites lift ban on fruits and vegetables imported from European Union
  • Date: 10th August 2011
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (AUGUST 9, 2011) (REUTERS) FRUIT AND VEGETABLE STALL ON STREET CORNER MAN PAYING FOR VEGETABLES VARIOUS OF CUCUMBERS AND TOMATOES ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF WOMAN BUYING NECTARINES FRUIT AND VEGETABLES ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOSCOW HOUSEWIFE ANNA, SAYING: "I try to not to buy European fruits and vegetables. The only problem is with vegetables like celery root - they don't grow it here, so I have to buy Dutch or German ones. It all depends on the vegetables, but actually I prefer to buy them at markets or stalls like this one, not in the supermarkets." GRAPES AND STRAWBERRIES ON DISPLAY PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOSCOW PSYCHIATRIST MURAD, SAYING: "I never bought foreign fruits and vegetables actually. I always try to buy locally grown (vegetables). So I never really cared, whether they imposed the ban or lifted it, there's not much difference for me. I always try to buy the best for my family, for my children and for myself." FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ON DISPLAY WOMAN BUYING TOMATOES VARIOUS OF FRUITS ON DISPLAY
  • Embargoed: 25th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: International Relations,Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA4K7HX95VOVKEXHDF9247KBX5D
  • Story Text: Russia lifted its ban on raw vegetables from all European Union countries starting on Tuesday (August 9), according to an announcement byu the head of the country's consumer watchdog made on Monday (August 8).
    Russia banned imports of raw vegetables from the European Union on June 2 due to a deadly E. coli outbreak. Moscow later agreed to drop the ban provided it received safety guarantees and has since allowed imports from some EU nations.
    The EU, which exported about 600 million euros' ($850 million) worth of vegetables to Russia last year, had said the blanket ban was not scientifically justified.
    Chief of the Russian consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor, Gennady Onishchenko said on Monday that he ordered the cancellation of restrictions on imports of vegetables from the European Union and the lifting of a special regime which required an issuance of certificates for each shipment of vegetables.
    Russian consumers polled in Moscow streets said, however, they did not notice the ban as they tried to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables.
    "I try to not to buy European fruits and vegetables. The only problem is with vegetables like celery root - they don't grow it here, so I have to buy Dutch or German ones. It all depends on the vegetables, but actually I prefer to buy them at markets or stalls like this one, not in the supermarkets," Moscow housewife Anna said.
    "I never bought foreign fruits and vegetables actually. I always try to buy locally grown (vegetables). So I never really cared, whether they imposed the ban or lifted it, there's not much difference for me. I always try to buy the best for my family, for my children and for myself," said Murad, a psychiatrist and Moscow resident.
    The blanket ban strained Russia's relationship with the EU, its biggest trading partner, at a time when Moscow is seeking to complete its negotiations to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
    The EU's health and consumer affairs chief John Dalli welcomed the decision to lift the ban.
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