Thailand Confirms Russia Ban On Thai Rice Imports

Apr 27,2007 00:00 by dailynews
Russia will ban rice imports from Thailand effective May 1, citing poor quality due to pest problems, a senior official at Thailand's Foreign Trade Department confirmed Friday.

Earlier, Russian federal food quality watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said it was suspending all rice imports from Thailand after a 1,200-metric-ton consignment of rice was seized by Rosselkhoznadzor officials at the port of Novorossiisk due to presence of dead grain pests.

Russia has since required rice supplies from Thailand to show details of residues and herbicides used.

However, Phinij Kosriporn, deputy spokesman at Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said it is difficult for officials to check on levels of residues and herbicides.

Kosriporn said the ban distorts international rice trade flows, and points to Russia's misuse of phytosanitary and grain quality standards to manage grain trade volumes.

Last Dec. 4, Rosselkhoznadzor suspended the issuance of import quarantine permits for rice from all countries because of poor quality and dangerous substances found in rice imported from Pakistan, India, Thailand, Egypt, China, Vietnam, Spain and Uruguay.

Russia has since lifted the embargo, but warned rice-exporting countries failing to comply with its food safety regulations that it will again ban or restrict supplies unless they take adequate control measures.

Russia used to import 400,000-500,000 MT of rice a year until it imposed a tariff of EUR70/ton in April 2005. Imports fell to 300,000-350,000 MT after that, analysts said. Thailand is one of the main suppliers of rice to Russia, along with China, Vietnam and India.