Russia, Belarus to formulate common agricultural policy, harmonize phytosanitary and veterinary control

MINSK. Sept 13 (Interfax) – Belarus and Russia plan to formulate a common agricultural policy and integrate information systems in the area of control over plant and animal products, the two countries’ prime ministers said in a joint statement on the current development of and further steps to deepen integration processes within their Union State.

"The parties agreed to effect an approximation of legislation in the area of agriculture with the goal of increasing the volume of mutual trade in agricultural products, eliminating administrative barriers, and ensuring food security and joint scientific and technical development of agriculture," the statement, which was posted on the Russian government’s website, said.

The countries also plan to integrate the information systems of government watchdogs in the area of veterinary and quarantine phytosanitary control. This refers to automating the process of sharing data on issued quarantine phytosanitary control (oversight) acts. They intend to ensure the traceability of goods subject to control and quarantine, thereby increasing the efficiency of quarantine phytosanitary and veterinary control (oversight) and accelerating the movement of goods and vehicles across the state border, the statement said.

"The parties will ensure the traceability of all animal products and products of plant origin," the statement said.

The countries also plan to adopt regulations for trade and food services that will ensure common standards for them. Legislation in this area will be harmonized.

Belarus is one of Russia’s largest trade partners in the agriculture sector. Trade in agricultural products between the two countries grew by 7.8% year-on-year to $2.918 billion in the first half of 2021, as Russian exports to Belarus rose 15.5% to $792.5 million and imports from Belarus increased by 5.2% to $2.1 billion, the Agriculture Ministry’s Agroexport center reported.

Russian exports to Belarus in the first half were up by $38.5 million for rapeseed, $15.6 million for oil seed cake and meal and $13.4 million for sunflower oil, but down $31.5 million for soybeans, $10.6 million for barley and $10.3 million for sugar. Russian imports from Belarus were up by 8.1% for cheese and cottage cheese, 83.2% for rapeseed and 29.3% for soybean cake and meal, but down 21.9% for milk and cream and 9.6% for poultry meat.

Bilateral trade in agricultural products between the two countries totalled $5.6 billion in 2020, as Russian exports to Belarus rose 2.2% to $1.4 billion, while imports from Belarus slumped 2.2% to $4.2 billion.

Agroexport estimated that Russia has the potential to increase agricultural exports to Belarus to $2 billion.