2014-23 - Plant Exports Operations - Suspension of trade of certain Australian plants and plant products to the Russian Federation

​8 August 2014

Purpose

To advise Australian exporters that the Russian Federation has imposed a ban on the importation of certain plants and plant products to the Russian Federation.

Background

On 6 August 2014, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, signed a Presidential Decree on the 'Application of Certain Special Economic Measures to Protect the National Security of the Russian Federation'. An unofficial translation of the Decree is provided at Attachment 1.

This Decree imposes an immediate ban, for one year, on imports of specified agricultural products originating from countries including Australia, US, EU, Norway and Canada. The list includes beef, pork, poultry, fresh fish, a range of dairy products, fresh, frozen, dried and preserved fruits and vegetables including edible roots and tuber crops, nuts (fresh or dried), dried leguminous beans/seeds, malt extract and products prepared from flour originating from a range of countries including Australia.

The unofficial translation of the list of agricultural products, raw materials and food affected by the decree, identified by HS (Harmonized Systems) Code, is provided at Attachment 2.

It is unclear whether Russia will allow entry of the products covered under the Decree that are currently en-route to Russia. The department is urgently seeking clarification in this regard. In the interim, exporters are advised to consider alternate market / ‘return to Australia’ options.

The department will work with exporters to facilitate re-certification for alternate markets and import permits for product returning to Australia:

• To discuss re-certification arrangements, exporters should contact by email EXdoc Plant Programs or telephone: 02 6272 4429
   
• To discuss ‘return to Australia’ arrangements, exporters should contact by email Plant Quarantine or telephone: 02 6272 3917

If exporters do intend to or are considering the return of products to Australia we would advise, where possible, they keep container seals intact.

The department will keep exporters updated of any relevant developments.

[signed]

Peter Creaser
A/g Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations

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:

1. 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 Norway Kingdom according to the attached list.
2. Federal Customs Service to provide control over the implementation of the paragraph 1 of this regulation.
3. The Governmental Committee for Monitoring and Operational Response to the Changes of the Conjecture 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.
4. 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.
5. Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, together with the interested 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 escalation of prices.
6. 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.
7. The present regulation comes into force on the day of its official publication.

Head of the Government of the Russian Federation D. Medvedev

List

Agricultural products, raw materials and food, originating from the United States of America, European Union countries, Canada, Australia, and Kingdom of Norway which are prohibited for import into the Russian Federation for the period of one year

Footnotes:

* For the application of this list it is necessary to follow HS code description, the name of the good is indicated for convenience.
** For the application of this item it is necessary to follow HS code description and the name of the good.

*** Excepting for goods designed for baby nutrition.

Attachment 2: Impacted HS Codes