the russian federations import restrictions on wine in july 2017 montenegro raised a concern over the russian federations measures on imports of wine products. montenegro stressed that there had been no prior record of non-compliance of its wine products with the russian federations required standards. montenegro indicated that the import restrictions had been introduced on 26 april without advance and or official notification. the reason provided for said restriction according to the official website of the rospotrebnadzor the russian federal service for surveillance on consumer rights protection and human wellbeing was related to an increased content of pesticides metalaxyl and phthalate plasticizer particles. montenegro regretted that despite bilateral meetings and the exchange of information the restrictive measures continued. finally montenegro requested a joint testing procedure of the confiscated wine within a reasonable time frame to clarify the disputed facts. the republic of moldova supported montenegros concern and its proposed joint control adding that a similar approach could also be of use in addressing its ongoing trade concerns with the russian federation. the russian federation thanked montenegro for their bilateral meeting and clarified that its competent authority rospotrebnadzor had detected an incompliance of the affected montenegrin wine producer with its sanitary and epidemiological legislation and hygienic norms. the russian federation recalled that the rospotrebnadzor had informed the company but that no information had been provided by it or the competent montenegrin authorities following which the temporary import restriction had been imposed. the russian federation remained open to bilateral discussions with the competent authorities of montenegro. in november 2017 montenegro reiterated its concern on the russian federations restrictive measures applied to imports of wine from montenegro and provided an update on the efforts and actions taken by montenegro since the previous sps committee meeting. montenegro recalled that the import restrictions had been introduced in 2016 without advance or official notification to the authorities in montenegro and the companies involved. montenegro reported that it had submitted two official letters to the russian federation authorities requesting additional information and clarification on the scientific evidence and nature of the imposed restriction had offered bilateral consultations and indicated that joint control of the wine would offer the best course to resolve the issue. montenegro pledged its full cooperation to the russian federation and its willingness to have the russian federation carry out a verification of its wine production compliance with the russian federation standards. montenegro expressed its dee regret for the lack of response on the part of the russian federation to its correspondence and the lacking intention to engage in bilateral consultation or undertake corrective measures to lift the existing restriction. montenegro urged the russian federation to lift the restriction and to find a mutually agreed solution including the review of the sps conformity of montenegrin wine to facilitate the full return of the exported confiscated wine. moldova referred to its statement made in the july 2017 sps committee meeting and reiterated its support to montenegros proposal of a joint control of the confiscated montenegrin wine to ensure a better understanding of the russian federation food safety standards and procedures in order to take corrective actions. moldova urged the russian federation to constructively engage in bilateral consultations to find a mutually acceptable solution in line with wto rules. the russian federation stated that the temporary import restriction was imposed due to the detection that montenegrin wines failed to meet the eurasian economic unions and the russian federations requirements. the russian federation indicated that montenegro