In the export of fresh tomatoes and peppers from Antalya and Izmir to Russia, 100% analysis requirement has been abolished in tomato brown fruit wrinkle virus, tomato spotted wilt virus and pepino mosaic virus. The sector also wants the quota on tomato exports to Russia to be lifted.
In December 2020, the Russian Agricultural Products Inspection Agency (Rosselhoznadzor) imposed a 100% analysis requirement for tomato brown fruit wrinkle virus, tomato spotted wilt virus and pepino mosaic virus in the export of tomatoes and peppers from Antalya and Izmir to Russia.
Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association President Hayrettin Ucak, who informed that the 100% analysis obligation was lifted after the guarantee given by the General Directorate of Food and Control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry regarding Turkish exporters, emphasized that tomato and pepper exports from Izmir and Antalya to Russia reached a volume of $36 million in 2020, and that this decision will increase the competitiveness of exporters. Reminding that as the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, they implemented the project called “We Know the Pesticides We Use” this year, Ucak said, “We conduct analyzes by taking samples from the production areas of many products including fresh tomatoes and peppers.
We determine our roadmap for pesticides and residues, and we take our measures. In other words, we do our own homework. We would like to thank our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in the presence of our Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Bekir Pakdemirli, for his trust in Turkish exporters. Izmir and Antalya are the centers of tomato and pepper production. In 2020, we exported $85 million from Turkey to Russia, of which $62 million was fresh tomatoes and $23 million was pepper. Izmir and Antalya had a share of 42% from this export and brought $36 million of foreign currency to our country. In fact, considering the exports produced in Izmir and Antalya but exported by companies in other provinces, more than half of our tomato and pepper exports to Russia are made from Antalya and Izmir. With this decision, we believe that we will exceed $50 million in tomato and pepper exports from Izmir and Antalya to Russia.”
WE ARE WAITING FOR THE QUOTA TO BE REMOVED
Pointing out that the absence of any viruses in our recently exported products was also effective in the lifting of the ban, Ucak concluded his words as follows: “The quota in question caused both an uneasiness on behalf of our manufacturers and additional analysis costs for our exporters. With the removal of this quota, we can say that our producers in these provinces are also breathing a sigh of relief. I hope this development will be reflected in the quota applied by Russia in our tomato exports, and the tomato quota, which is currently 300 thousand tons, will be completely lifted in the near future.”
IZMIR RANKED SECOND IN TOMATO EXPORTS
While Turkey exported $62 million 188 thousand of tomatoes to Russia in 2020, İzmir received a share of $14 million -and Antalya $12 million from this export. In the tomato export from Turkey to Russia, Izmir ranked second after Hatay in the list of provinces, while Antalya took the third place.
In 2020, Turkey exported $23.6 million of pepper to the Russian Federation, while Antalya was the clear winner in Turkey with an export of $9 million. Pepper exports from Izmir to Russia were recorded as $337 thousand.
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz