Russia has given Pakistan a heads-up about possibly stopping rice imports if they don’t fix some plant safety issues in upcoming shipments. According to Dawn’s report on Sunday, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS) of Russia pointed out problems with international and Russian plant safety rules in a recent batch of rice from Pakistan.
Russia Warns Pakistan of Banning Rice Imports
Russia has warned Pakistan about a possible ban on rice imports if concerns about plant health standards continue. This warning comes after Russia’s inspection agency found a bug called “Megaselia scalaris (Loew)” in a recent batch of rice from Pakistan.
Following this discovery, Pakistan’s trade representative in Russia has been asked to look into the issue right away. Russian officials have also requested the Pakistan embassy to take steps to prevent similar incidents and ensure that all rice exporters follow plant health rules to keep agricultural products safe during trade between the two countries.
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Quarantine Organism Found in Rice Shipment
“An April 2, 2024, notification labeled FS-SA-3/6592 revealed the discovery of a quarantine organism, ‘Megaselia scalaris (Loew),’ in a shipment of rice, as reported by Dawn.
The FSVPS has urged the plenipotentiary and trade representative at the Pakistani embassy in Russia to promptly investigate the issue.
According to a notice from Russian authorities, the FSVPS has instructed the relevant Pakistani embassy official to prevent future violations and stressed the importance of following phytosanitary standards to safeguard agricultural product safety in cross-border trade, Dawn reported.”
Pakistan’s Response to Russian Concerns on Rice Exports
The trade wing of the Pakistani embassy in Moscow has taken proactive steps by forwarding the translated version of a letter from Russian authorities to various governmental bodies, including the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) within the Ministry of Food Security.
This letter highlights concerns raised by Russian authorities regarding the quality and safety of rice exports from Pakistan. Specifically, it emphasizes the need for an immediate investigation into these concerns and urges prompt sharing of investigation findings with the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS).
The objective behind this urgency is to avert any potential ban on rice exports from Pakistan to Russia in the future.
Furthermore, Dawn, a leading Pakistani newspaper, reports that the FSVPS has independently communicated with the director of the DPP. In this communication, the FSVPS seeks enhanced cooperation in the realm of plant quarantine. This indicates a desire for closer collaboration between Pakistani and Russian authorities to address phytosanitary issues effectively.
The context of this communication is significant, considering Russia’s history of imposing bans on rice imports from Pakistan. In 2019, Russia instituted a ban on Pakistani rice imports, citing similar concerns related to quality and safety standards.
This ban persisted for approximately two years before negotiations between officials from both countries led to its eventual lifting. Prior to this, in December 2006, they had also halted rice imports from Pakistan due to perceived deficiencies in meeting food safety standards.
The recurrence of such bans underscores the importance of addressing and rectifying any underlying issues in Pakistan’s rice export sector. Effective cooperation between Pakistani authorities, such as the DPP, and their Russian counterparts, including the FSVPS, is essential to ensure compliance with international phytosanitary standards and maintain uninterrupted trade relations between the two countries.
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Russia Warns Pakistan of Banning Rice Imports FAQs
Q.1. Why is Russia warning Pakistan about banning rice imports?
Ans. It have identified plant safety issues, including the presence of a quarantine organism, in recent rice shipments from Pakistan.
Q.2. What is the quarantine organism found in the rice shipment?
Ans. The quarantine organism discovered is “Megaselia scalaris (Loew),” as reported by Dawn.
Q.3. What steps has Pakistan taken in response to Russia’s concerns?
Ans. The Pakistani embassy in Moscow has forwarded authorities’ letter to relevant government bodies for investigation and cooperation.
Q.4. Why is cooperation between Pakistani and Russian authorities crucial?
Ans. Cooperation is vital to address phytosanitary issues effectively and maintain uninterrupted trade relations between the two countries.
Q.5. Has Russia imposed bans on Pakistani rice imports before?
Ans. Yes, previously banned rice imports from Pakistan in 2019 and 2006 due to similar concerns about quality and safety standards.
