On February 16, 2024, Russia granted export rights to five Ecuadorian enterprises for shipping bananas. These rights come with guarantees from the competent authorities in Ecuador, as confirmed by Sergei Dankvert, the head of Rosselkhoznadzor, during an interview on Rossiya-24.

Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor had requested the Ecuadorian authorities to suspend banana supplies from five exporters starting February 5. The reason behind this request was the detection of the polyphagous humpback fly in the banana crop. This quarantine pest is considered dangerous in Russia and the countries of the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union).

The appropriate Ecuadorian authorities will closely monitor banana shipments. However, Rosselkhoznadzor emphasized that the suspension specifically pertained to certifications issued by the Ecuadorian control authority.

If Ecuador fails to take adequate measures and continues to identify the pests in its bananas, Rosselkhoznadzor may escalate to the next stage of restrictive measures.

This decision is an example of the importance of the dialogue that must always exist between two countries that have traditionally had a very close relationship. The Ecuadorian ambassador to Russia, Juan Fernando Holguín, stated it in a statement provided to the press by the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry.

Holguín thanked "the openness" for the issue to be handled through technical means to overcome "certain trade limitations that normally exist in any trade relationship."

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld pointed out that "permanent dialogue and coordinated work brings results."

The executive director of the Association of Banana Exporters (ACORBANEC), Richard Salazar, commented that the Russian authorities "have verified that we have tightened (reinforced) compliance with phytosanitary protocols, and based on that verification, they have lifted the sanctions."

Salazar insisted that "the market was never closed, nor did we stop exporting," except for the five sanctioned companies. Other Ecuadorian companies participated in exports as usual.

On Sunday, the Foreign Ministry of Ecuador announced the trip to Russia of a delegation of representatives of Foreign Trade, Agriculture, and Agro-quality ministries. For Salazar, "Now more than ever, we must strengthen diplomatic and commercial relations.