Russia has issued a warning to Pakistan, indicating a potential ban on rice imports if concerns regarding phytosanitary standards persist, reported PTI.
This cautionary message follows the detection of a quarantine organism, “Megaselia scalaris (Loew),” in a recent rice shipment from Pakistan, as outlined in a notification from Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS) dated April 2.
Prompted by these findings, Pakistan’s trade representative in Russia has been tasked with conducting an immediate investigation into the matter. Additionally, Russian authorities have urged the Pakistan embassy to take preventative measures against such violations and ensure adherence to phytosanitary regulations by all rice exporters to guarantee the safety of agricultural products exchanged between the two nations.
This warning carries weight, as Russia had previously banned rice imports from Pakistan in 2019 due to health safety concerns. Similarly, in December 2006, imports were halted due to failure to meet food safety standards.
Chela Ram Kewlani, Chairman of the Pakistan Rice Exporters Association, emphasised the importance of meticulous selection and packaging by Pakistani rice exporters. He noted Pakistan’s advantageous position following India’s ban on non-Basmati rice exports last year, which significantly impacted the global rice market.
Despite these challenges, Pakistani rice exports have surged, with approximately 700,000 tonnes exported in December 2023 alone, reflecting heightened production, demand and global prices.
The Rice Export Corporation anticipates a substantial increase in Basmati and non-Basmati rice exports, aiming for over five million metric tonnes of total rice exports in the fiscal year 202-24, significantly surpassing the previous year’s exports of 3.7 million tonnes.
With inputs from PTI.