Dutch delegation heading for Moscow to discuss agro exports

THE HAGUE (Itar-Tass) - A Dutch delegation is heading to
Moscow for talks on lifting barriers for the export of agricultural
products to the Russian market.
The state secretary of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs,
Agriculture & Innovation, Henk Bleker, will hold the talks with Russia's
Minister of Agriculture, Yelena Skrynnik, on Monday, the press service of
the Dutch ministry told Itar-Tass.
Russia is an important market for the Dutch agricultural products, but
the toughening of Russia's veterinary and phytosanitary norms makes it
less accessible for this group of goods from the Netherlands, the Dutch
ministry said.
Moreover, Russia's current inspection requirements to the imported
agricultural items became tougher than in many EU countries. As a result,
Dutch agricultural producers complain of trade barriers created for their
goods.
Moreover, the Russian side challenges independence of the Netherlands'
s phytosanitary inspections that are carried out in that country by
private firms.
During the talks the delegation led by Bleker will try to persuade
their Russian counterparts that the system of phytosanitary and veterinary
inspections meets Russia's standards and Moscow has no reasons for banning
the Dutch products.
The export of the Netherlands's agricultural goods, mainly vegetables
and ornamental plants, to Russia has been growing since 2004 reaching over
1.5 billion euro in 2008. However, amid the global economic downfall it
shrank to 1.1 billion euro. However, beyond the European Union Russia
still remains the Netherlands's main foreign market after the United
States.
According to different estimates, approximately 5 percent of Russia's
agricultural import accounts for the Netherlands.