Baku, Azerbaijan, March 7
By Fakhri Vakilov - Trend:
Uzbekistan has proposed to increase number of checkpoints involved in the operation of "green corridor" for the supply of fruits and vegetables to Russia, Trend reports via Uzbek media.
The parties discussed this topic on the second meeting of joint working group on cooperation in agriculture between the two countries. The event was chaired by Uzbek Minister of Agriculture Zhamshid Khojaev and Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia Sergey Levin.
Currently, there are 11 checkpoints with necessary equipment. In February, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance opened four more checkpoints in Astrakhan, Dzerzhinsk, St. Petersburg and Kolomna.
The Uzbek side proposed to open several more points in the Rostov region and others, taking into account the emerging supply flows.
As the earliest possible arrangements for the supply of perishable goods, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia proposed to establish electronic information exchange between the regulatory authorities of both countries.
Moreover, Uzbekistan offered Russia to lift the ban on import of Uzbek processed meat and dairy products. The quarantine ban on the import of Uzbek processed meat and dairy products have been in effect in the Russian Federation for 16 years, since 2003.
Sergei Levin expressed his willingness to assist in the consideration of this issue by Russian side and suggested to Uzbek State Veterinary Service send information about the epidemiological situation in Uzbekistan again and, if necessary, jointly develop a program to fight Food and Mouth Diseases.
Recently, Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance allowed passengers to bring fresh vegetables, fruits and dried fruits weighing no more than 5 kilograms from Uzbekistan into hand luggage. Russia introduced the ban on import of plant products in the baggage and hand luggage of passengers from Uzbekistan in November last year.
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