Having reopened its market to a small number of Moldovan apple exporters in February, Russia has now significantly expanded the list of crops eligible for export. 

The Moldovan National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA) announced that as of last Friday (June 12), Russia was allowing the export of apples, pears, fresh quince, apricots, cherries and sour cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums and fresh Sloes.

The exports were unlocked after a positive review by experts of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor, who inspected the producers and product certification mechanisms in Moldova in late May.

The number of companies that received the right to deliver fruits to Russia remains 'limited' - Grimafruct, Agrodenidan, Maidan group, Unit-Olimp, Altin Alma, Bacaian Com, Oguzagroprom, Pobeda Colhoz, as well as those from the Grigoriopol, Dubasari, Camenca, Ribnita and Slobozia districts were included in the list, says ANSA.

Rosselkhoznadzor said it had given the right to export as an 'experiment', given that no phytosanitary issues had arisen over recent months after it allowed the resumption of some apple exports.

ANSA noted that the phytosanitary certification would be rigorous to ensure the reliability of Moldovan products on the Russian market.

In May Russia said it might resume imports of cherries, plums and apricots from Moldova.

Russia demanded data from the last three years on the production volume of fruit orchards and their phytosanitary monitoring results.

Rosselkhoznadzor banned fruit imports from Moldova on 21 June 2014. The Russian authority reasoned the decision explaining that the Moldovan producers would had violated the phytosanitary requirements.

Previously, Russia received about 30% of the country's wine exports, estimated at US$35 million, 93% of exports of apples, estimated at US$43.7 million, and 80% of plums exports, estimated at US$21.1 million.

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