Russia: From November 15 onwards export of German barley and malt to Russia was brought to a halt, due to an overall ban posed by Russian Federation authorities on German agricultural production of plant origin. The Russian competent authority (“Rosselhoznadzor”) in an official statement provided as an explanation of the ban, “noncompliance from the part of the German State Plant Protection Service with the Russian Phytosanitary Inspection import requirements”. Diana Magat, the spokesperson of Agricultural Ministry of Russian Federation confirmed that indeed import of German malt is now impossible. Mrs Heimann, export operation director of Wessheimer Company, one of the largest German malt producers, commenting on the ban, mentioned that the maltster is to continue malt shipments to Russia from its plants in Poland and Hungary.

The Logistics Director of Tinkoff Brewery, Mr. Igor Belov, said the company will respond to the ban switching to malt supplies from France and Finland. Tinkoff Brewery one of the most active Russian importers of German malt.

It is not clear how long these restrictions will apply. Mrs. Magat, commenting on this issue, stated that the subject will be a matter of negotiations between the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and the German Embassy in Russia. “At this moment there are no reasons whatsoever of lifting the restrictions,” said Mrs. Magat.

German malt imports cover 10% of Russian malt annual needs.

(Source: The Union of Russian Brewers)

21 November, 2004