Russia to mull phytosanitary protocols for grain exports to China

MOSCOW, Dec 15 (PRIME) -- Russia will hold talks with China on protocols of phytosanitary requirements to exports of wheat and other grain to the country, according to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s ruling published Tuesday on the government’s Web site for disclosure of legal information.

“To approve a decision…on the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight’s negotiations on the service’s signing of a protocol with China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on phytosanitary regulations for wheat that is exported from Russia to China,” the ruling read.

On December 11, Kommersant business daily reported quoting a bilateral protocol that China agreed to import only bagged grain and only from a few Russian regions. The business daily cited Arkady Zlochevsky, head of the Russian Grain Union, saying that the agreement’s conditions are discriminating, as transportation of grain in bags makes exports unprofitable.

Nikolai Vlasov, a deputy director of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight said China’s request to receive Russian grain in bags is groundless. The service does not agree with this export regulation and “our people will fight with that,” he said.

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