India is mounting pressure on Russia, a growing importer of farm products, to lift the ban on rice and peanuts from the country imposed early this year and accept bovine meat tested in Indian-Government certified labs.

It has also invited officials from the country’s quality control department to visit India later this month to inspect the quality of rice and buffalo meat being exported from the country. With Russia emerging as a major buyer of farm products, especially of bovine meat and processed food, India wants it to remove existing restrictions hindering exports from India.

“We have just started the process of establishing a toe-hold in Russia’s fast growing market for farm produce and have run into quality issues. We hope to sort these out soon,” a Commerce Department official told Business Line.

India’s export of rice to Russia increased five times to $25 million in April-December 2012 compared to $4.5 million in the same period of the previous year before breaks were applied by the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phyto-sanitary Surveillance (FSVPS) on exports in February this year.

The country placed a temporary ban on import of both rice and peanuts from India following detection of Khapra Beetle in Indian rice consignments.

“Strong measures have been taken since then by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) India in conformity with terms of a MoU signed with Russia in 2009,” the official said.

The NPPO has withdrawn the authority of the two officials issuing phyto-sanitary certification to Russia and suspended accreditation of the two pest-control organisations for fumigation of export consignments to Russia. It has also issued an advisory to all phyto-sanitary certification authorities directing them to be cautious and vigilant in carrying out inspection of exports to Russia. “We have now asked Russia to reconsider the ban. Detailed investigation in both cases of non-compliance is already underway and details would be shared with Russia soon,” the official said.

Bovine meat

Russia is also a huge market for bovine meat which India has not been able to tap as the authorities want specific quality norms to be adhered to which are too stringent. India wants Russia to accept quality certification given by Government accredited labs as India’s buffalo meat is accepted in 60 countries worldwide and there has not been any complaint.

“We want to discuss all aspects of phyto-sanitary regime and have written to Moscow inviting the FSVPS delegation for discussions during end-April, the official added. Bilateral trade between India and Russia in 2012 increased to $6.7 billion, registering 14 per cent growth over the previous year.

amiti.sen@thehindu.co.in

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Published on April 13, 2013