Georgian fruit and vegetables return to Russian market
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Russian mouths will soon be gobbling down on Georgian-grown peaches, apricots, plums and cherries as the Russian market opens up to a selection of Georgian-grown fruit and vegetables.
From May 26, Georgian summer fruits including peaches, apricots, plums, cherries as well as several vegetables will be sold throughout Russia, said Georgia’s Agriculture Minister today.
After today’s Government meeting, Minister Shalva Pipia told journalists negotiations to allow Georgian produce to be sold in Russia had been going on for some time.
"We have been constantly working with Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights). It has already been decided that fruits such as peaches, apricots, plums, cherries as well as several vegetables such as fresh potatoes, that are packed and washed will be allowed in the Russian market from Monday next week," Pipia said.
If this export venture was successful, the number of Georgian products on the approved Russian export list could increase, meaning more locally made products could be sold in Russia, he said.
"It is a progressive process. We started negotiations last year regarding wines and mineral waters. The process had been revised several times and currently work is underway to make all kinds of Georgian products available in the Russian market," he said.
Russia’s food safety experts will arrive in Georgia to conduct on-site inspection of Georgian vegetables and fruits that are allowed to be exported to the Russian market.
Russia is increasing the list of Georgian products allowed into its marketplace. Onions, carrots, beetroots, peppers, red sweet peppers, watermelon and melon are now allowed to be exported to Russia.
Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development has developed a draft law to suspend the agreement between Russia and Georgia on free trade, Russian media reports. The draft bill was uploaded on an official portal where authorities disclosed legal information.
Abashidze believed a draft law issued on Wednesday by Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development that outlined moves to suspend the 20-year-old free trade agreement was "not a surprise” for Georgian officials and "it will not be a tragedy”.
Georgia’s Prime Minister believes Russia’s suspension of its bilateral free trade agreement with Georgia is "not a big tragedy." Irakli Garibashvili commented on this topic from the Vasiani Military Base where he attended military trainings of Georgian soldiers.
Abashidze said the reason for Russia’s decision was because of the Customs Union – a union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia which gathered ex-Soviet states into a free trade zone to rival the European Union (EU).