Report: Russia not to expand imports of Turkish tomatoes rapidly

MOSCOW, Nov 8 (PRIME) -- Russia will not expand imports of Turkish tomatoes rapidly by allowing more companies to import the product, Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachyov said in an interview to Rossiya television channel broadcast on Wednesday.

“We will look at the quality of Turkish products and at how these volumes will affect the price and production of tomatoes in Russia, and we will use the information to make a decision,” Tkachyov said.

Moscow banned tomato imports from Turkey as part of retaliation measures from January 1, 2016 after Ankara downed a Russian Su-24 bomber. On October 31, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight allowed three Turkish companies to export 50,000 tonnes of tomatoes to Russia starting from November 1 under a ruling of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

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