Turkey and Russia sign accord on fruit exports
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolia News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 29, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement on fresh fruit and vegetable shipments after problems with some of Turkey's exports. Rather than punishing all Turkish exporters for mistakes by a couple of firms, Russia will now just impose sanctions on the non-compliant companies, informing the Turkish side in a timely manner
In the event of problems arising in fruit and vegetable exports to Russia, only the exporting firm Ğ not all Turkish companies Ğ will be penalized, according to a new arrangement between the two countries.
Turkey and Russia signed an additional memorandum on fresh fruit and vegetable exports in the second week of April, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Mehdi Eker. Under its terms, only the specific exporting firm, not the entire country, will face sanctions for any mistakes, he said. Previously, Russia had imposed a ban on all crop imports from a country with which it had experienced problems.
The recent memorandum is a part of a series of measures that have been taken to designate "reliable farmers and exporters," Eker said. In accordance with the memorandum, Russia will monitor Turkey’s exporting firms, he said.
"If Russia determines during audits that a firm has acted contrary to regulations a few times, or has sent the wrong products, it will let us know. First, the firm will be warned. If an exporter makes the same mistake three times, the firm will be penalized," Eker said. "This way, a general sanction on the whole country’s exports will not be imposed. Rather than a general ban, those who continue to make the same mistakes will be expelled. Exporters who sell products from reliable farmers will be assessed."
New audit periods
According to information from ministry officials, the additional memorandum was signed April 9 in Russia as a result of audits concerning fresh fruit and vegetable exports. From now on, all firms exporting to Russia will be monitored at six-month intervals. Turkish and Russian experts will investigate any firms that make mistakes during this period.
A consensus has been reached to remove additional stipulations from firms that do not make any mistakes during a one-year period. Turkey will ask Russia to allow firms that maintain a good record for one year to export with just a plant health certificate, and not demand additional analysis and food certificates. Firms that make mistakes three times in the designated period, however, may face export bans. Those that correct their mistakes will be allowed to export again.
In order for the system to come into force quickly, Turkey and Russia designated mutual contact spots. Both will inform each other of their analysis results once every three months. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will also report on plant health certificates once every two weeks. Additionally, there is also an ongoing negotiation between the two countries to reach a quarantine deal, expected to be signed this year, to prevent the transmission of plant diseases.
The potato issue
Problems in exports to Bulgaria will be discussed at a meeting in the western city of Edirne tomorrow. Officials from the Turkish ministry will inform a Bulgarian committee about the measures being taken against potato wart.
"Bulgaria has expressed doubts concerning potatoes from Nevşehir, Niğde and Ordu. But we could not detect it in our analyses," said Eker. "The Bulgarians have been invited to Turkey." Bulgarian representatives will be provided with first-hand information, he said, adding, "We have already taken measures concerning potato wart, and declared a security zone."
In March, Bulgaria issued a warning to Turkey on the grounds that 250 tons out of 11,500 tons of potato exported by Turkey carried wart disease. The Nematode parasite is said to have been detected in onions, but Bulgaria has not yet issued a warning, officials say, adding that Turkey is taking the necessary measures and that potato and onion exports to Bulgaria are ongoing.
Ministry officials said the European Union had sent no notice on "aflatoxin in watermelons and pears sent from Turkey to the EU between the 41st and 52nd weeks last year."
Turkey and Russia signed an additional memorandum on fresh fruit and vegetable exports in the second week of April, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Mehdi Eker. Under its terms, only the specific exporting firm, not the entire country, will face sanctions for any mistakes, he said. Previously, Russia had imposed a ban on all crop imports from a country with which it had experienced problems.
The recent memorandum is a part of a series of measures that have been taken to designate "reliable farmers and exporters," Eker said. In accordance with the memorandum, Russia will monitor Turkey’s exporting firms, he said.
"If Russia determines during audits that a firm has acted contrary to regulations a few times, or has sent the wrong products, it will let us know. First, the firm will be warned. If an exporter makes the same mistake three times, the firm will be penalized," Eker said. "This way, a general sanction on the whole country’s exports will not be imposed. Rather than a general ban, those who continue to make the same mistakes will be expelled. Exporters who sell products from reliable farmers will be assessed."
New audit periods
According to information from ministry officials, the additional memorandum was signed April 9 in Russia as a result of audits concerning fresh fruit and vegetable exports. From now on, all firms exporting to Russia will be monitored at six-month intervals. Turkish and Russian experts will investigate any firms that make mistakes during this period.
A consensus has been reached to remove additional stipulations from firms that do not make any mistakes during a one-year period. Turkey will ask Russia to allow firms that maintain a good record for one year to export with just a plant health certificate, and not demand additional analysis and food certificates. Firms that make mistakes three times in the designated period, however, may face export bans. Those that correct their mistakes will be allowed to export again.
In order for the system to come into force quickly, Turkey and Russia designated mutual contact spots. Both will inform each other of their analysis results once every three months. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will also report on plant health certificates once every two weeks. Additionally, there is also an ongoing negotiation between the two countries to reach a quarantine deal, expected to be signed this year, to prevent the transmission of plant diseases.
The potato issue
Problems in exports to Bulgaria will be discussed at a meeting in the western city of Edirne tomorrow. Officials from the Turkish ministry will inform a Bulgarian committee about the measures being taken against potato wart.
"Bulgaria has expressed doubts concerning potatoes from Nevşehir, Niğde and Ordu. But we could not detect it in our analyses," said Eker. "The Bulgarians have been invited to Turkey." Bulgarian representatives will be provided with first-hand information, he said, adding, "We have already taken measures concerning potato wart, and declared a security zone."
In March, Bulgaria issued a warning to Turkey on the grounds that 250 tons out of 11,500 tons of potato exported by Turkey carried wart disease. The Nematode parasite is said to have been detected in onions, but Bulgaria has not yet issued a warning, officials say, adding that Turkey is taking the necessary measures and that potato and onion exports to Bulgaria are ongoing.
Ministry officials said the European Union had sent no notice on "aflatoxin in watermelons and pears sent from Turkey to the EU between the 41st and 52nd weeks last year."