Belarus restricts apple imports with mandatory licensing system
- Belarus announced a mandatory licensing requirement for apple imports from outside the Eurasian Economic Union, implementing resolution No.
- The Ministry of Agriculture projects a large domestic apple harvest reaching 180,000 tons.
- Correspondence published by the Zerkalo portal revealed that Deputy Prime Minister Yury Shuleika requested a bill to license apple imports in early September, with backing from the Ministry...
Belarus announced a mandatory licensing requirement for apple imports from outside the Eurasian Economic Union, implementing resolution No. 487 to restrict external fruit shipments. Importers must secure one-time licenses issued by the Ministry of Trade in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture. The Council of Ministers stated on September 24 that the policy aims to guarantee full domestic market supply during the off-season, backed by a high domestic harvest.
Domestic Production and Storage Projections
The Ministry of Agriculture projects a large domestic apple harvest reaching 180,000 tons. Officials report that approximately 100,000 tons of this yield can be placed in storage to supply consumer demand through the winter and spring months, marking a volume 3.7 times higher than previous plans. Belgoskharchprom also indicated that an additional 100,000 tons of apples exhibiting unmarketable appearances and defects will be directed toward canned goods and alcoholic products.
Internal Policy Debates and Regional Trade Shifts
Internal discussions preceded the regulatory shift. Correspondence published by the Zerkalo portal revealed that Deputy Prime Minister Yury Shuleika requested a bill to license apple imports in early September, with backing from the Ministry of Agriculture. Conversely, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resisted attempts to reintroduce Polish apples to the list of banned products from unfriendly nations, leading officials to adopt the licensing system as an alternative to a total import ban. Poland’s export data shows a distinct geographic pivot away from Belarus toward other markets. In August 2026, Poland exported 1,692 tons of apples to Egypt, compared to just 527 tons sent to Belarus. In 2025, Poland shipped 35.9 thousand tons to Belarus, 42.5 thousand tons to Kazakhstan, and 67.4 thousand tons to Egypt. Significant volumes also flowed within the European Union, including 72.9 thousand tons to Germany, 52.9 thousand tons to Romania, 37.7 thousand tons to the Netherlands, and 19.8 thousand tons to Lithuania. Total Polish apple exports reached 626 thousand tons valued at 500 million USD, whereas exports to Belarus accounted for roughly 24.5 million USD. Trade restrictions with Belarus represent less than 6% of total Polish export weight and under 5% by monetary value.
Market Risks for Belarusian Consumers
Previous restrictions on foreign fruit imports highlight potential domestic consumer risks. When the government banned imports of apples from unfriendly countries in 2022, retail chains reported severe supply shortages and poor quality among domestic alternatives, driving retail prices up to 6.50 USD per kilogram before officials ultimately lifted the ban.