Russian agricultural watchdog ‘has no plans to lift restrictions on Turkish produce’

MOSCOW

Russian agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor does not plan to lift phytosanitary restrictions on agricultural products from Turkey in the near future, state news agency TASS reported on March 10. 

“Those restrictions that have been, to date, remain. So far we do not plan to lift them. Definitely not in the near future,” said the watchdog’s official representative, Yulia Melano, as quoted by TASS. 

Earlier on March 10, the Russian government had lifted the ban on exports of onions, cauliflower, broccoli and carnations from Turkey.

Moscow banned supplies of a number of food products from Turkey to Russia from Jan. 1, 2016, including several fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, and yellow onions. Supplies of frozen turkey, chicken, fresh Turkish pinks, and salt were also banned. Those restrictions were introduced amid political tension between the two countries.

In spring 2016, Rosselkhoznadzor banned import of certain vegetable products, citing phytosanitary reasons. As a result, import of bell pepper, pomegranates, aubergines, lettuce, Iceberg lettuce, marrow squashes and pumpkins were prohibited.

In October 2016, Russia partially removed restrictions on imports of agricultural products from Turkey.