Ljajic: No re-exports of goods reported so far

BELGRADE - The Ministry of Trade has received no reports of specific cases of goods being re-exported from the European Union to the Russian market via Serbia, minister Rasim Ljajic has told Tanjug.

Following media reports that an inspectorate of the Russian ministry of agriculture announced that there have been attempts to export food to Russia from the European Union via third countries - including Serbia - in spite of the sanctions imposed, Ljajic said that there have been no specific cases, but noted that he has said in the past that such attempts will occur.

"We have stepped up border and customs control as well as the control carried out by the phytosanitary inspectorate," the minister said, adding that the flow of goods entering Serbia is being tracked to prevent re-exports.

Earlier on, Ljajic said that Serbia must not allow any abuse related to re-exporting.

We must not let someone's 300-400 tons of apples exported jeopardise our potential export total of 150,000 tons of that fruit for this year, Ljajic said previously.

Our customs administration will step up efforts to prevent such a situation from occurring, while producers and exporters who make an attempt to profit in a fraudulent manner will be punished most severely, Ljajic announced.

Two weeks ago, Moscow introduced a year-long ban on agricultural and food imports from countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia over the Ukrainian crisis.

Photo Tanjug, T. Valic (archive)