Oranges from Egypt held in Russian ports in fungicide row
A sudden decision by Russia to ban the import of Egyptian oranges into the country has left Egypt's exporters reeling.
Russia has stopped recent shipments of Egyptian oranges at its ports because the fruits bear traces of Imazalil, a fungicide used to treat citrus fruits before they are shipped, an Egyptian official told local media.
Over 400,000 tons of Egyptian oranges in 150 separate shipments are waiting at Russian ports, Egyptian exporters told Mada Masr.
Still widely used, Imazalil is classified by the United States' Environmental Protection Agency as “likely to be carcinogenic in humans”. However, the EPA also say that “there is reasonable certainty that no harm… will result from aggregate exposure to Imazalil” in a dietary setting.
A source within Egypt’s Horticultural Crop Development Association told The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the oranges met all stipulations made in agreements between the two countries.
Agreements between the two countries stipulate that any regulatory changes must be announced two weeks before coming into effect, they said.
The source added that they suspected oranges are being refused entry by Russia to clear the way for Turkish imports, in an attempt to ease current tensions between Ankara and Moscow.
The decision will have a significant impact on the Egyptian citrus trade.
Egypt tops the world’s orange exporters list, with Russia, China and Saudi Arabia the main destinations for its crop of the citrus fruit.
Ali Issa, one of Egypt’s major exporters, said he and other traders were surprised by the Russian decision.
He said Russia had not warned exporters of any changes to rules on the use of Imazalil.
In an attempt to solve the dispute, Egyptian trade minister Nevine Gamea met with Russia's Cairo ambassador Georgi Borisenkothis week for “intensive talks” on the matter.
“Russia is one of Egypt’s top export markets, with exports amounting to $489 million in 2021, up 17.5% from $416 million a year earlier,” Gamea said.