The Eurasian Economic Commission, led by Vladimir Serpikov, Director of the EEC Trade Policy Department, and Vladimir Sinkevich, Director of the EEC Department of Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Veterinary Measures, discussed with representatives of government agencies, business associations and businesses the issues of access of agricultural products from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union to the Iranian market.

The meeting was held ahead of the entry into force of the free trade agreement between the EAEU and Iran on 15 May this year.

The preferential coverage of the agreement covers 67 per cent of agricultural commodity nomenclature, which accounts for 98 per cent of EAEU agricultural exports to Iran. Liberalisation of the trade regime will significantly reduce the level of tariff protection of the Iranian side: the average rate of Iran's MFN for the entire agricultural commodity nomenclature will fall from 30% to 14%.

"The agreement creates unique tariff conditions of access for EAEU business to the Iranian market, including in terms of food products. In this regard, it is necessary to identify those barriers and problematic issues that we should pay attention to in the first place in the framework of the development of cooperation with Iran in this area,’ Vladimir Serpikov noted.

He also recalled that at the same time the agreement improved the regulatory part concerning the application of sanitary, veterinary-sanitary and quarantine phytosanitary measures, which can have a significant impact on mutual trade.

"The EAEU has formed a regulatory and legal framework in the field of SPS measures, which establishes requirements for safety, including food products, the procedure for import and its movement across the territory of the union. In compliance with the EAEU law in these areas, the products of third countries, including Iran, enter the market of the EAEU member states,’ Vladimir Sinkevich informed.

The issues of access of agricultural products, including the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, are proposed to be discussed with the Iranian side during the first meeting of the joint committee on the implementation of the agreement, scheduled for the second half of 2025.

In addition, the most promising areas of interaction with Iranian partners in this area are planned to be included in the draft plan of joint measures (roadmap) on trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU, its member states and Iran, aimed at implementing the provisions of the agreement.