OREANDA-NEWS. February 10, 2014. A 1.5-per cent tax on walnuts export will be removed. The cabinet of ministers approved a draft law to this effect.

Deputy Prime Minister, Economics Minister Valeriu Lazar said the tax was an obstacle to boosting exports, with Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Vasile Bumacov sharing the same opinion.

So far, the tax on walnuts export was collected in a fund, from which activities to back the sector were financed. Meanwhile, the fund was liquidated, but the tax remained.

The government considered the draft, after Prime Minister Iurie Leanca had issued an instruction early this week, thereby asking for removal of the tax on walnuts export. Leanca ordered this, following consultations with representatives of the business environment at a meeting of the Economic Council.

Moldova exports 11,000-13,000 tons of nuts annually, mainly to the European Union.