Russia banned vegetable and fruit imports from the impoverished nation in March 2005 because they failed to comply with health safety standards. After testing a batch of Moldovan vegetables and fruits in March 2007, Russia's agriculture watchdog allowed the republic to resume its exports.
Until 2005, Moldova exported 80% of its annual harvest of 350,000 metric tons of vegetables and 500,000 metric tons of fruits to Russia.
In March 2006, Russia also banned Moldovan wine imports, saying the wine contained heavy metals, pesticides, and caused health concerns.
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised in November to reverse the ban if Moldova introduced a proper quality control system.
In January, Moldova said it had launched a rigorous quality control and certification system for wines and liquors sold both domestically and abroad.
In mid-February, Moldova's Agriculture and Food Minister Stefan Calancea said Russian and Moldovan experts were developing a mechanism for resuming wine imports via a single customs checkpoint. He said the state would also inspect all wine producers after the sides agreed to resume imports.
Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been complicated since the collapse of the Soviet Union, stumbling over Moldova's westward ambitions and its breakaway region of Transdnestr, which is dominated by Russian speakers.
