According to forecasts of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency, the volume of apples that is forecast to be exported from Azerbaijan to Russia in 2021 will amount to 88,232 tons. Some 37 local enterprises will be allowed to export apples to Russia as a result of the negotiations held between the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency and Russia’s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor. The last round of negotiations was held between the delegation from Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency and Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision in a videoconference format on February 16.
In 2020, some 67 Azerbaijani enterprises exported 66,924 tons of apple products to Russia. Rosselkhoznadzor banned the import of Azerbaijani tomatoes and apples on December 10, citing the necessity to “prevent the import and spread” of pesticides to Russia. So far, Russia has lifted the ban on imports of 51 tomato producers and 37 apple producers operating in Azerbaijan.