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Russia may ban imports of fruits from Moldova
Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary control authority (Rosselkhoznadzor) says it might impose a ban on imports of fruits from the Republic of Moldova.
Rosselkhoznadzor has regretted to say about violations of phytosanitary requirements during shipping plant products from Moldova to Russia.
In 2013, the Russian authorities exposed 15 batches of Moldovan products contaminated with Grapholitha molesta Busck (oriental fruit moth).
There was a new case of Grapholitha molesta Busck. detection in a batch of apricots of Moldovan origin on July 9, 2014.
«Those facts have raised serious concerns before the season of mass shipments of quarantineable products from Moldova to the Russian Federation», said Rosselkhoznadzor. «Rosselkhonadzor has informed the National Agency of Food Products Safety of the Republic of Moldova that it may examine the issue of introduction of temporary restrictions on imports of quarantineable products of Moldovan origin in case of detection quarantine objects in new batches».
It should be noted that Moldova has been the leading plum exporter to the Russian Federation over the past 2 years with the share of 40% in Russia's total imports. Moldova is also the second largest supplier of apples to Russia (after Poland) with the share of 20% in Russia's total imports. Moldova also accounts for the share of 5% in Russia's annual imports of apricots.