Moldovan Fruit Import Embargo: Gorincioi Calls It a Political Game by Moscow

The embargo imposed by Russia on fruits and vegetables from the Republic of Moldova is not a novelty and represents a political maneuver by Moscow. This opinion belongs to the president of the Association of Fruit Producers and Exporters “Moldova-Fruct,” Vitalie Gorincioi, who stated that fruit producers in the Republic of Moldova will sell their goods in other markets. According to him, only consumers in the Russian Federation suffer from the embargo, as these restrictions lead to price increases in the domestic market, as reported by IPN.md.

Starting from December 4, Russia has imposed an embargo on the import of fruits and vegetables from the Republic of Moldova. Rosselhoznadzor claims to have detected several harmful insects in Moldovan products—Grapholita molesta, Frankliniella occidentalis, Bactrocera dorsalis, etc.—which are prohibited in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

“For the ten years I have been the president of ‘Moldova-Fruct,’ I have heard about Russian bans about ten times already. We are naive, and instead of minding our own business, we think they might change their minds. Last year, we invited the Rosselhoznadzor officials; we created a working group together with ANSA, with those accused of sending fruits that do not meet the standards. It turned out, in the end, that those indicated in the list didn’t even send plums. Let’s think logically, on the left bank of the Dniester, there are no pests, on the right bank – there are. In Gagauzia, there are no pests, and in Cahul, there are already. It is clear that there are political games,” said the president of the “Moldova-Fruct” Association, Vitalie Gorincioi.

According to Vitalie Gorincioi, the majority of members of the Association of Fruit Producers and Exporters have redirected their exports to the European Union market, and the embargoes imposed by Russia only affect consumers in that country.

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“Discussions and negotiations should be conducted with state institutions, with ANSA, with the Ministry of Agriculture, not with political parties. Some political leaders make a list of producers allowed to export. It is a shame for such a large country like Russia to resort to such methods. We will sell fruits to those who want to eat them and pay money. In Russia, first of all, the consumer has to lose. Russia, likewise, produces apples, and their producers are now raising prices,” said the president of Moldova-Fruct, Vitalie Gorincioi.

The National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) responded with a press release to Russia’s embargo, stating that “Moldovan fruits and vegetables are exported to more than 80 countries worldwide, with quantities of prunes and apples exported to European countries doubling this year.

In no country, except Russia, have notifications been reported about certain violations. The decision of the Russian authorities contradicts international phytosanitary principles and has no real basis.”