2014-13 - Russian Federation - Suspension of Trade in Australian agricultural commodities

​​Purpose

To advise exporters of the immediate suspension of trade in Australian agricultural commodities including certain live animals to the Russian Federation.

Background

The department has become aware that the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has signed a Presidential Decree on the ‘Application of Certain Special Economic Measures in order to protect the national security of the Russian Federation’.

The Decree imposes immediate bans, for one year, on imports of specified agricultural commodities originating from countries including Australia. An unofficial translation of the Decree is provided at Attachment 1.

The list of agricultural commodities affected by the decree, identified by HS (Harmonized Systems) Code, is provided at Attachment 2.

Instructions

In considering whether to grant an export permit the Secretary may refuse to grant the export permit if there is reason to believe that the intended country of destination will not permit consignment of live animals or reproductive material to enter.

Effective from 8 August 2014, the department will carefully consider all applications for export permits for live animals or reproductive material destined to the Russian Federation.

The department advises all exporters to proceed with extreme caution when considering whether to apply to export live animals or reproductive material to the Russian Federation.

The department is not aware if the list of commodities listed in the Decree will be expanded further.

The department will provide all exporters with updates as further information becomes available.

Jenny Cupit
Assistant Secretary
Live Animal Exports Branch

Contact officer: Tim Naylor
Ph: (02) 6272 4581
Email: Livestock Exports

Attachment 1:

Unofficial translation on the measures for implementation of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of August 6, 2014 #560 “About the application of certain special economic measures in order to protect the national security of the Russian Federation”.

In order to implement the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of August 6, 2014 #560 “About the application of certain special economic measures in order to protect national security of the Russian Federation”, the Government of the Russian Federation orders:

Impose for a term of one year a prohibition on the import to the Russian Federation of the agricultural products, raw materials and food, which originate from the United States of America, European Union countries, Canada, Australia, and Kingdom of Norway according to the attached list.

Federal Customs Service to provide control over the implementation of the paragraph 1 of this regulation.

The Governmental Committee for Monitoring and Operational Response to the Changes of the Conjuncture of the Food Markets, together with the highest bodies of executive authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation, to provide balance in the food market and prevent escalation of prices of agricultural products, raw materials and food.

Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation together with the highest bodies of executive authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation to organize conduct daily operational monitoring and control over the status of the relevant markets of agricultural products, raw materials and food.

Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, together with the interested federal bodies of the executive authorities, and with participation of the associations of manufacturers of agricultural products, raw materials and food, to develop and implement complex measures aimed to increase the supply of agricultural products, raw materials and food in order to prevent the escalation of prices.

Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the Federal Antitrust Service, with participation of associations of retail trader networks and trade organizations to provide coordination of the work aimed at preventing escalation of prices.

The present regulation comes into force on the day of its official publication.

Head of the Government of the Russian Federation, D. Medvedev

Attachment 2: Impacted HS Codes