On the anniversary of Russia's announcement to ban food imports from various western countries, the former Soviet nation has expanded the number of Moldovan suppliers eligible to export. 

In a statement, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) gave a green light to 17 additional companies who may now ship several fruit crops to Russia.

Effective as of today (August 7), the organizations are allowed to ship apples, pears, quinces, apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums and fresh sloes.

Rosselkhoznadzor said the move was a response to the lack of phytosanitary issues detected by authorities over recent months.

Last summer, the watchdog banned Moldovan fruit imports, citing a large number of phytosanitary violations.

Russia later canceled zero import tariffs on other Moldovan goods, according news agency Tass.ru.

In February this year, Russia reopened its doors to a limited number of Moldovan apples shippers, and in June the country expanded the list of crops and suppliers allowed to export.

According to Tass.ru, Moldova's farmers cannot orient their supplies to the European market as their goods fail to comply with EU quality standards.

The story added Moldovan fruit growers had suffered great losses as the country was ranked second in apple exports to Russia after Poland.

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