Poland’s Economy Minister Janusz Piechocinski said the country needs to ask Brussels to compensate the farmers “as soon as possible” for the damages brought by the Russian import ban of fruits and vegetables. According to experts, this question is to be discussed by the Polish government during the nearest meeting.
As the result of a Russian ban on fruit and vegetables imports, Poland is to lose about 1.6 billion euros in 2014. Thus, the head of the Polish Ministry of Economy said that the country’s exports might contract by at least 50 percent.
From August 1, Russia barred Poland from supplying fruit and vegetables due to multiple violations. The ban relates to pears, apples, quinces, cherries, apricots and peaches, nectarines, plums, as well as all kinds of cabbage and edible Brassica vegetables - fresh or chilled. Meanwhile, mushrooms are not blocked from importing.
Poland is one of the biggest suppliers of fruits and vegetables to Russia. According to the Eurasian Economic Commission, the Russia-led customs union exported 968,500 tons of apples, pears and quince worth $534.1 million from Poland in 2013. The biggest share of the products (80%) was supplied to Russia.
Moreover, Poland exported 103,800 tons of frozen vegetables and 44,800 tons of frozen fruits in 2013 to the customs union.
