Russian Economy News: Russia has offered to consult with the EU to ban Dutch tulips

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Russia has offered to consult with the EU to ban Dutch tulips – NEWSru.com

Once the repeated Warning the Russian authorities proposed to suspend the phytosanitary certification of flowers from the Netherlands. It is reported by RIA “Novosti” with reference to the press service of the Rosselkhoznadzor.

“In order to prevent the introduction of temporary restrictions on the import of cut flowers from the territory of the European Union Rosselkhoznadzor considers it necessary to carry out the urgent technical consultations with the competent authorities of the European Union on the existing problem,” – said in a statement. Pending the completion of consultations Rosselkhoznadzor suggested the EU “to suspend the phytosanitary certification of Dutch flowers,” says the press release.

Some media, including the TASS reported that, so the import of cut flowers from the Netherlands will be banned. While the ban applies only to the colors produced in the Netherlands, and the transit of colors, this measure does not apply, according to Tass.

The representative of the Rosselkhoznadzor Alexey Alekseenko meanwhile, said that the agency has not yet introduced a ban on the supply of flowers from the Netherlands.

“We have offered to hold talks with European counterparts in order to create a monitoring system that would guarantee misses the contaminated products in the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. If our proposals are not accepted, we reserve the right to more tough measures, including the introduction of temporary restrictions on the supply of flowers from Europe, “- he said, ” Interfax “.

Rosselkhoznadzor found in the Dutch colors parasites

Last week Rosselkhoznadzor hints , Russia may ban the supply of flowers from the Netherlands.

“issues raised high probability of a ban on the supply of flower products from the Netherlands to Russia because of the presence of these products in quarantine organisms that pose a serious threat to the economy and selhoztovaroproizvodstva country”, – stated in a press release following the meeting the head office of Sergei Dankvert Ambassador of Colombia in the Russian Federation, Jaime Duarte Chiron.

A spokesman for Minister Yulia Trofimova indicated that flowers from the Netherlands periodically do not pass sanitary-quarantine control. “Repeatedly we informed our colleagues about the problem, that the products are unsafe, but any adequate response from them is not observed,” – she said.

According to Rosselkhoznadzor, the last three months while testing colors, arrived in Russia from the European Union, found 324 party infested with quarantine facilities for Russia – Western (Californian) thrips, chrysanthemum white rust, tobacco whitefly , clover American miner.

The cut flowers produced in the Netherlands, these objects are recorded in 183 cases, accounting for 58% of the total number of identified contaminated batches of cut flowers received from all the EU countries.

The Kremlin asked not to politicize the ban

Previously, a ban on the import of flowers from the whole of Europe said Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev. He pointed out that the flowers may fall into the “sanctions list” created by Russia in response to the restrictive measures by the West. At the same time, he said, the issue of restrictions agency was going to be guided by “the interests of consumers and above all our producers.” He pointed out that the ban will not, “if we can not replace, removing from the market imported products.” Then Rosselkhoznadzor also warned Colombia on the need for direct deliveries.

However, the list , approved by the government after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the relevant law, the flowers are not logged in.

The Kremlin urged not to politicize the issue of a possible ban on the supply of Dutch tulips in the Russian Federation and not to associate the story with objections Russia regarding establishment of an international tribunal to investigate crash Boeing Ukraine.

According to customs statistics, in 2014 Russia imported flower bulbs, tubers, roots and rhizomes for planting in the amount of 38 million dollars. Import of other living plants (various cuttings, trees, shrubs) was 58.3 million. Deliveries of cut flowers and flower buds for bouquets were even more: in the amount of 225.4 million dollars. Another $ 8.2 million was import of various parts of plants without flowers, grasses, mosses, lichens.

Thus, the ban could cost the Netherlands in the tens of millions of euros. He also reflected on the economies of other European countries, because the flowers are imported from the Netherlands and in other countries.

At the same time, experts say the ban will negatively affect the Russian market. If the restrictions will get the seedlings, the blow will be inflicted and domestic producers. About 90% of domestic flowers are grown seedlings of the Dutch.

Last year, Russia imposed restrictions on the import of products from the West. This happened after the Western countries due to the Crimea to the Russian Federation imposed sanctions against Moscow in the energy, defense and financial sectors. The West believes the accession of the Crimea “annexation” and suspected Moscow of supporting separatists in the south-east of Ukraine.

June 22 Foreign Ministers of the EU approved the extension of sanctions against Russia. Restrictive measures extended until January 31, 2016, and their removal is linked to the full implementation of the agreements Minsk. In addition, the European Council extended the sanctions against the Crimea.

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The Russian authorities named “threat” the flowers from the Netherlands and ready to impose a ban on them
// NEWSru.com // // In Russia, July 21, 2015