Iran has restricted the import of 20 agricultural products in a bid to boost national productivity and make the domestic industry more competitive.
"Imports of cow meat, rice, wheat, and a couple of fruits such as apples, peaches, apricots, cherries, and pearls have been banned," Khabaronline quoted Babak Afqahi head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran as saying.
If the domestic products are not improved in terms of quality and the consumer prices are not lowered, the national economy would face serious problems, Arsalan Fathipour, the head of the Majlis Economic Committee stated in August, Jamejamonline reported.
Central Bank Governor Mahmoud Bahmani had previously said the nation should limit imports only to "necessary goods" to help lift domestic production and make savings in the country's FOREX reserves.
"Imports should be reduced," Bahmani was quoted as saying. "In other words, we should not allow the import of every sort of product."