Russia Warns Of Rice Import Ban From Pakistan Over Food Safety Concerns

The threat of restricting rice imports from Pakistan by Russia once more has been prompted by the discovery of a quarantine organism in a rice consignment, with phytosanitary concerns addressed in future consignments.

This warning was issued in response to a notification from Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS) regarding a shipment of rice imported from Pakistan that had violated both Russian and international phytosanitary regulations.

The notification, dated April 2, noted that the rice shipment contained "Megaselia scalaris (Loew)," a quarantine organism.

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Phytosanitary Concerns Raised by Russia

Washington has indicated that it does not support the project going forward and has warned Pakistan that it may face US penalties. The commercial representative of Pakistan at its embassy in Russia was requested to address the situation promptly.

Efforts Urged to Address Phytosanitary Infractions

To ensure the safety of agricultural products traded between the two nations, the Russian authorities have written to the Pakistani embassy, urging them to prevent such infractions and ensure that all Pakistani rice exporters adhere to phytosanitary regulations.

The Pakistani embassy in Moscow has warned of a potential ban on rice exports in the future if more complaints from Russian authorities are received. The trade wing of the embassy has forwarded the letter from the Russian authority to the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) in the Ministry of Food Security and other relevant government offices.

Past Bans and Consequences

In 2019, the import of rice from Pakistan was banned by Russia due to health and safety concerns. Similarly, Russia banned the import of rice from Pakistan in December 2006 due to non-compliance with food safety regulations.

Advice to Rice Exporters

Chela Ram Kewlani, the chairman of the Pakistan Rice Exporters Association, advised Pakistani rice exporters to exercise extreme caution when selecting and packing rice for export. He claimed that Pakistan had benefited from India's prohibition on shipments of non-Basmati rice last year, as India accounts for almost 40% of the world's rice trade.

Export Trends and Forecasts

A prominent Pakistani rice trader reported the largest monthly shipment of rice for the fiscal year, over 700,000 tons, in December 2023. According to him, Pakistan exported rice last year at a higher price due to increased demand and supply.

The Rice Export Corporation forecasts a 36% increase in non-Basmati rice shipments to 4.25 million tonnes from Pakistan and a 60% increase in Basmati rice exports to over a million tonnes in the fiscal year 2023-2024. It hopes to export more than five million metric tonnes of rice in the fiscal year 2023-2024, a significant increase from the 3.7 million metric tonnes exported in the previous fiscal year.