UPDATE: Govt says approves limited tomato imports from Turkey

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MOSCOW/GORKI, Moscow Region, Oct 27 (PRIME) -- Russia has officially approved imports of 50,000 tonnes of tomatoes from Turkey from November 1, as seen by PRIME in a government order signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Friday.

Alexander Novak, Energy Minister and co-chairman of an intergovernmental commission, said earlier that Moscow and Ankara had reached a principal agreement on tomato supplies by four Turkish companies.

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said that tomato deliveries from Turkey will not harm Russian farmers due to a small amount of these supplies.

He added that Turkey has asked to expand the list of companies allowed to export tomatoes and Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight is considering the issue.

Russia’s government will consider additional tomato imports in November and December, if necessary, Dvorkovich said.

“After the 50,000 tonne limit is over, we will monitor the market to decide whether the measure should be prolonged and expanded. This will be done only if there is still no harm to local producers and there is a benefit for local consumers when we lack tomatoes off-season,” he said.

Moscow banned tomato imports from Turkey as part of retaliation measures from January 1, 2016 after Ankara downed a Russian Su-24 bomber.

Dvorkovich also said that Moscow sees positive steps done by Ankara to permit Russian food deliveries to the country’s market, but it reserves the right to impose new retaliatory measures if Turkey keeps food imports restrictions.

Earlier in October, Ankara introduced import rules for some Russian-made produce including wheat, non-refined sunflower seed oil, corn, dry peas and raw rice, which require permits from the trade or diplomatic missions of Turkey in Russia.

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