MOSCOW, Russia (AA): Russia said on Tuesday that it is ready to increase imports of Turkish tomatoes.
According to a statement by Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), the country has asked Turkish Agriculture Ministry to provide a list of companies that wish to supply tomatoes to Russia. The statement added the Rosselkhoznadzor experts are ready to visit the companies on the list. Russia last October signed a decree, lifting its restrictions on the import of tomatoes from Turkey beginning Nov. 1, 2017. However, Moscow implemented an import quota.
On March 19, Turkey’s Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said Ankara was “absolutely” against Russia’s limit on the number of companies importing Turkish tomatoes.
“We are absolutely against the limit on number of companies. If needed, we can do the same. We will import by choosing a company,” Zeybekci said.
A total of 14 Turkish companies are currently allowed to supply tomatoes to Russia.
After Turkey shot down a Russian military jet over an airspace violation in Nov. 2015, Moscow took several measures against Ankara, including banning imports of Turkish agricultural products and ending visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.
