By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Moscow is ready to lift its ban on a number of Indian agriculture imports, including tobacco, Russia’s agricultural watchdog RosSelkhozNadzor has said.
The ban on Indian products was imposed by Russia Jan 28 after a dangerous pest, the Khapra beetle, was allegedly found in Indian sesame seed imports.
India admitted breaching Russian import controls and pledged additional measures to improve standards and safety of agriculture exports to Russia.
RosSelkhozNadzor Wednesday said Moscow would resume imports of Indian tobacco, onions, dried mushrooms and mixed vegetables once India provides “documentation for the official investigation”.
Vadim Zhelnin, director of the Russian tobacco corporation, Tabakprom, earlier criticized Moscow’s tobacco ban saying the move could jeopardize cigarette production of certain popular Russian brands.
Russia is a major export destination for Indian tobacco with about 20,000 tonnes of manufactured tobacco imported annually.