Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the UN Secretariat on assistance in promoting Russian food and fertilisers on global markets

This Memorandum of Understanding is concluded between the Russian Federation and the United Nations Secretariat (the Secretariat).

Recalling that the right to adequate nutrition is a human right and that food is not just a commodity;

Noting that the Russian Federation and the Secretariat’s shared priority is to urgently resolve the growing global problem of the lack of food security due to rising food and fertiliser prices on global markets, which threatens to further undermine efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, Goal 2 concerning the end of hunger;

Noting that one of the Russian Federation and the Secretariat’s key activities is preventing hunger and exacerbation of  food insecurity problems, primarily in developing and least developed countries, in particular ensuring stability on global food markets by facilitating access to agricultural products, including fertilisers and source materials for their production (including ammonia) coming from the Russian Federation;

Noting the ongoing crisis in supply chains and disruptions in logistics, resulting in sharp increases in transportation prices and related costs, and in particular the grave impact this has on the availability of food and fertilisers for developing and least developed countries;

Noting the importance of unfettered trade in fertilisers and source materials for their production (including ammonia) for the purposes of supporting global agricultural production;

In an effort to establish a process promoting unfettered access to global markets for food and fertilisers, including source materials for their production (including ammonia), coming from the Russian Federation;

Recognising the critical role of the UN system in developing and coordinating the global response to the food crisis under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General;

In view of the above, the Russian Federation and the Secretariat have come to an understanding regarding the following measures that they will take to facilitate unfettered access to global markets for food and fertilisers, including source materials for their production (including ammonia) coming from the Russian Federation.

1. The Russian Federation will continue commercial deliveries of food and fertilisers to the countries in need of these products.

The Russian Federation will inform the Secretariat about the obstacles to the supply of food and fertilisers to global markets, including source materials for their production (including ammonia), coming from the Russian Federation.

The Russian Federation will facilitate unfettered exports of food, sunflower oil and fertilisers from Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea ports.

2. The Secretariat agrees to carry on its efforts to promote transparent and unfettered supply of food and fertilisers, including source materials for their production (including ammonia), coming from the Russian Federation to global markets. These efforts include, in particular, efforts to help remove obstacles that may arise in finance, insurance or logistics.

The Secretariat will strive to work with the competent authorities and the private sector to achieve specific exemptions for food and fertilisers, including source materials for their production (including ammonia) produced in the Russian Federation, from measures taken with regard to the Russian Federation in accordance with the principle that these measures do not apply to food and fertilisers, thereby facilitating unfettered exports of Russian food and fertilisers, including source materials for their production (including ammonia), to global markets taking into account the urgent need related to global food security, and the existing needs of the corresponding producers and sellers of food and fertilisers in the Russian Federation.

The Secretariat will advise Russian companies on doing business with the United Nations and on the procedure and requirements needed for becoming a registered supplier.

3. The Russian Federation and the Secretariat will establish mutual exchange of information for the purposes of complying with this Memorandum.

The exchange of information will be carried out as follows:

• On behalf of Russia, through the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations in New York;

• On behalf of the Secretariat, through the Secretariat of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

4. This Memorandum is not an international treaty and does not establish any rights or obligations under international law.

5. Any disagreement between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat arising in connection with interpretation, implementation or application of this Memorandum shall be resolved on the basis of mutual consultations.

6. This Memorandum shall enter into force on the date of the last signing by the representatives of the Russian Federation and the Secretariat. This Memorandum shall remain valid for three years. The Russian Federation and the Secretariat will notify each other in writing three months prior to the date on which they intend to terminate this Memorandum.

7. This Memorandum may be amended upon mutual written consent of the Russian Federation and the Secretariat.

Signed on July 22, 2022, in duplicate, each copy in English and Russian.

For the Russian Federation: His Excellency Andrey Belousov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation

For the UN Secretariat: His Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations