CHISINAU, September 3 (Itar-Tass) - Moldova will fulfill all the requirements of the Russian federal consumer rights protection service (Rospotrebnadzor) to improve the quality of wines for continued exports to Russia, the republic's Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Vasily Bumakov said, commenting on statements by Russian chief sanitary inspector, Rospotrebnadzor head Gennady Onishchenko.
Reports about the new results of inspections of Moldova wineries were sent to Moscow last week, Burmakov said, pointing to additional expenses ahead for producers. But Moldova was ready to do all that was necessary to maintain good relations with Rospotrebnadzor in maintaining sales to Russia, he added.
Russian authorities say Moldovan wineries have supplied tens of millions of euros' worth of products to Russia and that less than 1 percent of the volume was checked for quality in the appropriate Moldovan centre.
After four batches of Moldovan wine, more than 28,000 liters, were rejected last week, Onishchenko accused authorities in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, of having no efficient control system. He did not rule out returning to the situation of 2006, when Russia imposed an embargo on Moldovan wines.
The Russian official said it was necessary to return to "the tested practice" of direct cooperation with associations of producers and suppliers as existed when the ban was gradually lifted.
Before the embargo was imposed, Moldovan wines accounted for 60% of the Russian market. At present, they have no more than 10%.