Due to the large increase in exports from Bosnia and Herzegovinia, Russia suspects that they are side-stepping the embargo on European agri-food and are trafficking agricultural products imported from the EU.
Apple and pear exports between January- September 2014 are 100 times higher than the same period in 2013, going from 10 to 2,066 tons. Other products concerned are grapes and potatoes.
Threatening a sanction, Russia is demanding explications, they want to see proof of authenticity of phytosanitary certificates and information on the varieties and quantities of produce grown in Bosnia and Herzegovinia in 2014.
Bosnian authorities claim that they have transmitted these demands to the authorities concerned. Russia is expected to respond this week.
The Russian suspicions hold no doubt with local fruit producers. Dragoje Dojčinović, President of Fruit Producers in Republika Srpska says that “I saw the increase of products into Bosnia two months ago, coming from Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Poland. It is not good for us. These are enormous quantities that Bosnia is incapable of producing (…) If Russia closes the borders we will be the ones to pay. This year I exported 5 truckloads of apples and pears to Russia. I could have turned over volume 10 times higher, but due to the flooding and frost, our 2014 production was not up to par”.
Russian decreed the embargo on western agri-food products in retaliation to the sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU and the USA.