Source: Oleoscope (Russia)
The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has announced a temporary ban on the import of certain agricultural products from Kazakhstan from October 17, 2024, ElDala.kz reports. The ban will apply until the restrictions are lifted, the duration of which has not yet been determined. The list of banned goods includes wheat (soft and hard wheat), lentils and oilseed linseed.
However, the transit of these products through Russian territory is permitted provided that Kazakh phytosanitary certificates are issued for the final destination and the grain is transferred from the wagons to the holds of the ships. A complete ban without the possibility of transit applies to shipments of tomatoes, peppers, sunflower seeds (for seeds) from third countries and melons of Kazakh origin to Russia.
It should be recalled that in mid-September Rosselkhoznadzor appealed to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture to stop issuing phytosanitary certificates for the supply of these agricultural products to Russia from September 23. The reason for this was an increase in the number of quarantine objects detected in the shipments.
However, market participants assume that these restrictions are Russia’s response to the complete ban on Russian wheat deliveries to Kazakhstan, which is valid until the end of 2024. The Kazakh government made this decision in the hope of a large harvest in the current season to prevent a fall in grain prices on the Kazakh domestic market.
It should be noted that the share of grain and oilseed deliveries from Kazakhstan to Russia is only a small part of the total export volume. More important for Kazakhstan, however, is the possibility of transit of its agricultural products via Russian seaports to Europe and other countries.
At the international grain conference Agricom in Astana, experts from the Kazakh Grain Union expressed the view that the ban on wheat supplies from Russia should be lifted early in order to avoid retaliatory measures on the part of Russia and to preserve the possibility of transit of its agricultural products through Russian territory.
Earlier, MPs from the Majilis faction Respublica had called on the Kazakh government to negotiate with Russia and, if necessary, to challenge Rosselkhoznadzor’s measures before the EAEU’s Justice Committee. The import and transit restrictions imposed by Rosselkhoznadzor on agricultural products from Kazakhstan endanger the export of 2.5 to 3 million tons of grain and oilseeds to the European market.
Since September 23, 2024, Russia has imposed unilateral restrictions on the movement of agricultural products from Kazakhstan through its territory. This has led to significant financial losses for Kazakh producers: Wagons are at a standstill, delivery deadlines are expiring and contractual obligations are not being fulfilled. As a result, Kazakh citizens are forced to pay fines and suffer significant losses.
“It is necessary to start official negotiations with Russia and achieve the lifting of unjustified phytosanitary restrictions on the transit of Kazakh products. If Rosselkhoznadzor refuses to fulfill our demands, this matter should be considered before the EAEU Judicial Committee,” said MP Aidarbek Khodzhanazarov.
In the event that Russia refuses to cooperate, MEPs proposed as a countermeasure to change the customs tariff for the transit of Russian products through Kazakhstan and to impose restrictions on the import of Russian goods to the Kazakh market.
The MPs also called for the protection of the interests of Kazakh producers affected by Rosselkhoznadzor’s measures, including suing Russian partners for compensation for delays and damage to Kazakh goods.