Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan is fully responsible for the quality and origin of the agricultural products exported to Russia.

Aydin Aliyev, Head of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, told reporters in Baku on April 6, commenting on the negotiations over exporting fruits and vegetables from Azerbaijan to Russia.

Aliyev noted that the Russian delegation, which has arrived in Azerbaijan for the negotiations, will be able to verify the quality and origin of the products for export.

“After the negotiations, the Russian delegation will view the farms for manufacture of agricultural products, as well as with our rules for drawing up the documents regarding these products,” he said.

Touching upon the delay of Azerbaijani goods at the Russian border, Aliyev noted that all problems have been resolved.

“Several vehicles with agricultural products were detained at the Azerbaijani-Russian border,” he said. “These vehicles were allowed to enter Russia after the Azerbaijani origin of the products was proved through a lab test.”

Head of the Committee further said that the export volume of Azerbaijani agricultural products has increased by 73 percent in the first quarter of 2017.

He said that the agricultural products were exported to Russia, as well as other countries, such as Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

At the same time, there was a decrease in the import of agricultural products to Azerbaijan in the first quarter of 2017, he added.

“Compared to the same period of last year, the import of fruits and vegetables to Azerbaijan decreased by 17 percent due to increased customs duties imposed on the import of agricultural products,” Aliyev said.

Increase observed in customs duties in Azerbaijan starting from November 1, 2016, in particular, has affected such products as meat and edible meat by-products (fresh, chilled and frozen poultry meat), eggs, vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, garlic), fruits and nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, grapes, apples, pear, quince, persimmon), fruit and vegetable processing products (juices).

Customs duties were also increased for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (mineral and soda water), construction materials (bentonite, gypsum, cement, clinker), articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos (plates, bricks, building blocks) and ceramic products.

These changes were introduced for a two-year period.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev said that over the last year, Azerbaijan exported to Russia about 20-25 percent of tomatoes grown in the country.

"Over 517,000 tons of tomatoes were grown in Azerbaijan last year, and more than 100,000 tons were exported to Russia, that is, about 20-25 percent of the production was exported to Russia," Babayev said.

as to re-export of third countries' products, Babayev noted that the figures show that this is unprofitable for Azerbaijan.

“Since November last year, the import of fruit and vegetable products to Azerbaijan has been reduced, which is due to the introduction of specific customs duties. If to consider the data of the first two months of 2017, only 350 tons of tomatoes were imported to Azerbaijan. At the same time, we exported over 8,800 tons of tomatoes to Russia. Also it is worth paying attention to the fact that the cost of imported product to Azerbaijan from Turkey is $1.17 per kilogram, while the cost of exported products to Russia is $1.12 per kilogram,” he explained.

Addressing the event, Andrey Ryazanov, First Deputy Head of the Department of Trade Restrictions, Currency and Export Control of the Federal Customs Service of Russia, spoke of customs procedures, noting that the main goal of the Russian customs bodies is to reduce the terms of customs procedures with all countries, including Azerbaijan, as well as reduce business costs.

"Currently, we do not report any conflict situations related to the importation of Azerbaijani products to Russia. But to exclude such cases in the near future, we must bring our position, which we have already begun to do," Ryazanov said.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia in the first two months of 2017 amounted to $235.4 million, showing an increase of almost 55 percent compared to the same period in 2016, according to the State Customs Committee.

Azerbaijan does not intend to introduce mechanisms of the "green corridor" while exporting products to other countries, said Aliyev, while talking to reporters about implementation of the "green corridor" at checkpoints.

Introduction of such a mechanism requires a large volume of trade turnover, he said. "In addition, it is necessary to have a large consumption market. If there are such conditions, we are ready to negotiate over the formation of a green corridor," Aliyev said.

In accordance with the amendments to the Customs Code of Azerbaijan, introduced in accordance with the presidential decree on November 30, 2016, green, blue, yellow and red pass systems for the transportation of goods and vehicles across the customs border can be applied for simplification of goods and vehicles.

Azerbaijan and Russia reached the agreement on “green corridor” in February 2015. The agreement has created the conditions for the smooth transit of the agricultural products of vegetable origin through the "green corridor". It’s about perishable products and processed products, with the exception of excisable goods.