The economic agents from the left bank of Nistru will be able to obtain the import authorization for food, phytosanitary products and fertilizers, according to new rules during the exceptional situation

At its meeting on 23 March, 2020, the National Commission for Emergency Situations established a simplified authorization procedure for economic agents from the Transnistrian region, that import food, phytosanitary products and fertilizers. The decision was taken to provide residents of the Transnistrian region with food and products intended for agricultural work.

"Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ukraine notified about the state border points’ closure, including the central segment with the Transnistrian region. Thus, in order to reach the destination, the economic agents registered with the Public Services Agency, based on the left bank of Nistru, will have to introduce products through the state border points of the Republic of Moldova opened during this period, and the customs posts authorized by the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova, in compliance with the national legislation, but without the payment of import and environment pollution duties, according to the provisions of the Government Decision no.1001/2001 and based on the mechanism adopted by the National Commission for Emergency Situations ”, declared the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, Cristina Lesnic.

Hence, the economic agents from the Transnistrian region, registered with the Public Services Agency (PSA), will be recorded in the phytosanitary operators register, kept by the National Agency for Food Safety (NAFS) and in the TRACES system (for food importers) within 3 days, the usual term being 20 days. In order to cross the state border, the economic agents from the left bank of Nistru will need the following permissive documents: the sanitary-veterinary certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting state, the quality certificate, a document attesting to product's harmlessness issued by the manufacturer, and the prior notification of the border inspection post with 24 hours before the intention to import.

The economic agents not registered with the PSA and NAFS will be able to carry out the import operations only after their permanent or provisional authorization/registration with the Public Services Agency, through a reduced term of documents’ examination. In order to obtain the sanitary-veterinary authorization of operation and the official registration certificate for food safety, the economic agents will submit an electronic application, annexing the extract from the state register of legal entities and the title of property or contract for the use of space. Subsequently, NAFS will inspect the storage areas as a matter of urgency, in order to be convinced of compliance with the requirements.

The Customs Service and NAFS have the right to prohibit the import of goods, if these goods can endanger public health.

In this situation, dictated by the state of emergency, interested economic agents will benefit from support on being provide clear and unique rules.