President Putin demands tougher quality control of vegetables and fruit imported by Russia

SEMIKARAKORSK, September 24. /TASS/. The quality control over fruit and vegetables imported into Russia should be tougher, otherwise domestic producers face unfavorable conditions. That's according to Russia's President Vladimir Putin who spoke at a meeting on agriculture Thursday.

"Of course we need stricter quality control over imported fruit and vegetables, we need to fight against unfair competition on the domestic market," he said. Putin explained that strict control over products at home without the same standards for imports "puts domestic producers into unfavorable conditions."

Putin said currently boosting domestic production of fruit and vegetables shows potential. "There are difficulties in satisfying internal demand for this market, especially in the winter season," he said. "The problem is generally clear — it is important to create conditions to boost profitability of greenhouse farms, improve silo infrastructure, develop seed farms," he added.