Macedonian dairy and meat products can be exported in Russia. To meet requests in order export to be realized and to create protective mechanisms against the misuse of exporting produces in Russia with fake Macedonian certificates, a memorandum was signed Thursday by Macedonia’s Agriculture Ministry and Food Agency and Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.

The memorandum at technical level should regulate veterinary and phytosanitary conditions and requests for domestic food operators willing to export goods in Russia, which was a point of discussion for quite a while. Twelve operators so far have filed an export request to the Food Agency that are set to undergo an inspection by a Russian committee in late August or early September. It is expected export of goods to start by the end of the year.

The objective is to secure more markets for Macedonian products to be promoted there, according to Minister of Agriculture Mihail Cvetkov. “On markets in Russia our produces, meat and meat products and milk and dairy products are not sold and thus we are making efforts to be able to sell them. We also face problems with the issuance of fake certificates of other countries in accordance with the ban of import of produces from the EU. Our certificates are being used to export these produces in the Russian Federation,” said Cvetkov after signing the document.

Under the memorandum, huge opportunities for export and strategic partnerships with domestic food operators are being opened, it was said. Russia’s requests in general cover food safety and confirmation that products are from Macedonian origin.

Macedonia will get almost unrestricted access to the Russian market and to those other markets in the Euroasian Economic Union, according to Aleksey Alekseenko – assistant chief of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.

It was also agreed data to be exchanged and the Russian agency is also prepared to assist in establishing electronic systems, including certification, laboratory tests, etc. The goal is also to prevent Macedonian certificates from being used illegally.

Alekseenko praised the high quality of Macedonian products. “There is also high potential for development. At the moment it isn’t used to the fullest. Macedonia could become a major exporter of produces.”

Moreover, the memorandum creates conditions to deliver Macedonian goods on the Russian market, which is being realized in the long run. “It means that Macedonian producers of agricultural products can plan their activities in the long-term. This is also very important for the country’s economy, job creation, expansion of investment efforts, etc,” stated Russian Ambassador Oleg Shcherbak.

Macedonia-Russia trade exchange in 2014 compared to 2013 increased by 92.8%. It is expected 2015 to be better than last year.