As the RIA Novosti correspondent writes with reference to the statement of Maxim Gninenko, deputy head of the phytosanitary supervision department of the Rosselkhoznadzor, the department's leadership does not exclude the introduction of restrictions on the supply of food from Switzerland.
Earlier, the deputy head of the department also held a meeting with representatives of the Swiss embassy in Russia. Within the framework of bilateral negotiations, Maxim Gninenko informed his European colleagues that after the imposition of sanctions, the flow of imports from Switzerland has already increased approximately two times, and the supply of apples - about four hundred times.
The growth in the volume of shipments also raises concerns among representatives of the Rosselkhoznadzor that EU member states, which currently do not have access to the Russian market, carry out illegal exports through Switzerland.
The Rosselkhoznadzor has also sent a number of inquiries to Switzerland regarding the volume of production in the country and, accordingly, the possible size of exports. A prerequisite is the submission to the Russian department of phytosanitary certificates confirming the origin and safety of food products entering Russia.
If the Swiss colleagues do not do this, the introduction of restrictive measures is also possible. Currently, most of the apples exported from Switzerland are sold in Russian stores as a product in the premium price segment. That is, imported fruits are not purchased by Pyaterochek visitors and regulars, but rather by consumers visiting Azbuka Vkusa, Globus Gourmet, Bakhetle and SPAR retail outlets. -
"Our apples are from Turkey, Egypt, now we buy a lot from the Krasnodar Territory. I don't know anything about Switzerland and its apples," said Mikhail Bastrykin, the owner of a small retail outlet with fruit and vegetable products in the town of Lobnya near Moscow.
In turn, a representative of one of the major retailers, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Of course, restrictive measures give us a lot of trouble. We have to look for new suppliers, but, thank God, Azerbaijan, our beloved Turkey and other countries have become very active now. But this applies to all fruits and vegetables. We bought fruits from Switzerland several times, but in small quantities, therefore, if you do not take into account the general trend, a possible ban will not greatly affect our work, said the specialist.
