Russia lifts banana export ban for 5 companies from Ecuador

(CNN Spanish) — Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry reported this Friday that Russia has lifted the banana export ban it imposed on five Ecuadorian companies earlier this month.

“Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control has lifted restrictions, opening new opportunities for trade between the two countries,” the organization said in the report. Your social network account.

According to the Chancellor, Gabriela Sommerfeld, this decision is the result of dialogue and coordinated work between the two countries.

Ecuador’s ambassador to Russia, Juan Fernando Holguín, highlighted the lifting of Russian sanctions on five companies.

“This is an example of the importance of dialogue that has always existed between two countries that traditionally have very close relations,” he stressed at a press conference in Moscow alongside the head of the Veterinary and Federal Service. Phytosanitary Supervision of Russia. , Sergei Dankwert.

After lifting the veto, the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (FedExport) this Friday reaffirmed its commitment to comply with the quality standards and phytosanitary protocols required by international markets.

On February 5, the Agency for Phyto and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control of Ecuador (Agrocalidad) reported that after the discovery of humpback fly specimens in bananas, the counterpart body in Russia requested the suspension of banana export certificates for five Ecuadorian companies. shipment

Agrocalidad indicated that the humpback fly is not a pest nor does it affect crops and promised to test procedures in the field.

Russia is the second destination market for Ecuadorian bananas, and the fourth most important destination for Ecuador’s non-oil exports in general, according to FedExport.

The Russian response came shortly after Ecuador reported an agreement to exchange Soviet war materials with the United States, which would include the transfer of equipment to Ukraine. Russia has rejected this decision and called it illegal.