Russia has cautioned Pakistan about the potential ban on rice imports if future shipments fail to address their phytosanitary concerns, Dawn reported on Sunday.
The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS) of the Russian Federation issued a notification, numbered FS-SA-3/6592 dated April 2, 2024, regarding violations of international and Russian phytosanitary requirements found in a shipment of rice imported from Pakistan. The notification highlighted the presence of a quarantine organism, “Megaselia scalaris (Loew),” in the rice consignment, Dawn reported.
The FSVPS has requested the plenipotentiary and trade representative at the Pakistani embassy in Russia to conduct an immediate investigation into the issue. A copy of the notice issued by Russian authorities indicates that the FSVPS has urged the relevant official at the Pakistani embassy to take measures to prevent similar violations in the future. Additionally, it emphasized the significance of adhering to phytosanitary standards to safeguard the safety of agricultural products exchanged between nations, according to Dawn.
Simultaneously, the trade division of the Pakistani embassy in Moscow has transmitted the English translation of the letter from Russian authorities to the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) within the Ministry of Food Security, along with other pertinent government agencies.
The letter by the embassy to the DPP states, “In view of the above, it is requested that an investigation may be conducted immediately and the results of the investigation may please be shared with FSVPS in order to avoid any possible ban on rice exports in the future.”
FSVPS has additionally dispatched an official communication to the director of DPP, requesting a greater level of collaboration in the realm of plant quarantine, Dawn reported. Previously, in 2019, Russia had imposed a ban on similar grounds, which endured for approximately two years. This ban was lifted following a series of negotiations between officials from both nations. Furthermore, in December 2006, Russia halted rice imports from Pakistan due to concerns regarding food safety standards.