Uzbekistan bans export of agricultural products by vehicles

Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 2

By Demir Azizov- Trend:

The export of agricultural products by vehicles has been banned in Uzbekistan since September 1, the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers' resolution on "Measures on further improvement of the mechanism for regulating the export of fruits, vegetables, potatoes, melons and grapes" published in the official press said Sept. 2.

Fruits, vegetables, potatoes, melons and grapes (the commodity nomenclature of the foreign economic activity code 07-08) have been exported only by trains and planes since Sept. 1, the resolution said.

According to the resolution, the measures were taken to ensure the transparency of the customs procedures for registration of export contracts and prevention of the illegal transportation of specified products through the customs border of the country.

In addition, since October 1, Uzbekistan will introduce a mechanism for keeping the register of unscrupulous exporters of fruits and vegetables, potatoes, melons and grapes, as well as their founders.

The grounds for including an economic entity in the register of unscrupulous exporters are the availability of outstanding receivables on foreign trade contracts of exporters, delayed implementation of mandatory sale of a part of the revenue from exports in foreign currency to the authorized banks.

It was previously reported that since January 1, 2015, small and medium-sized businesses of Uzbekistan are obliged to sell 25 percent of foreign exchange earnings from the export of vegetables and fruits to the state.

Nevertheless, many exporters manage to circumvent this provision by using vehicles that are more difficult to control, to export products.

Up to 7 million tons of fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in Uzbekistan each year.

Uzbekistan is expected to export 29,100 tons of vegetables, around 80,000 tons of melons, 115,000 tons of fruits and 110,000 tons of grapes in 2015.