Russia, the growing importer of farm products is facing high pressure from India, to lift the ban on rice and peanuts from the country imposed early this year and accept bovine meat tested in Indian-Government certified labs.
Indian government has also invited officials from the country’s quality control department to visit India later this month to inspect the quality of rice and buffalo meat being exported from the country. Strong measures have been taken since then by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) India in conformity with terms of a MoU signed with Russia in 2009.
With Russia emerging as a major buyer of farm products, especially of bovine meat and processed food, India wants it to remove existing restrictions hindering exports from India. The country placed a temporary ban on import of both rice and peanuts from India following detection of Khapra Beetle in Indian rice consignments.
India’s export of rice to Russia increased five times to $25 million in April-December 2012 compared to $4.5 million in the same period of the previous year before breaks were applied by the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phyto-sanitary Surveillance (FSVPS) on exports in February this year.