Starting from Friday, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) will restrict import of all quarantine products imported from Armenia and originating in Armenia, as well as their transit through the territory of Russia to the other Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states, the Rosselkhoznadzor noted on a statement issued Thursday.

“The ban will be in effect until a clear mechanism is developed to ensure the safety and traceability of the delivered goods.

The decision was made due to the periodic detection of quarantine objects. Since May of this year, the Service has gradually restricted the import of certain types of Armenian quarantine products, and has also repeatedly sent information to the Armenian side about violations recorded during deliveries.

Nevertheless, cases of detection of quarantine objects continue. In June, 3 cases of infection with the khapra beetle were recorded in batches of walnuts, dried peaches, and dried tomatoes imported from Armenia,” Rosselkhoznadzor added.

The mentioned facts indicate improper monitoring by the authorized body of Armenia and cause distrust in the phytosanitary certification system. The ineffectiveness of the activities of the Armenian Quarantine and Plant Protection Service puts the phytosanitary security of Russia and the EAEU at risk.

“The khapra beetle is an omnivorous pest of stored resources, which is absent in the territory of Russia. It damages the seeds of grain, olive, leguminous, technical crops and products obtained as a result of their processing, as well as forest, ornamental, and other crops. It can infect grain warehouses, transport vehicles, raw material and flour warehouses, mills, compound feed factories, confectionery factories, malt warehouses, and brewery grinding plants. It is capable of destroying up to 70% of stored products.

The economic damage to the territory of Russia can be expressed not only in the loss of crops or the implementation of measures to localize and eliminate foci of infection, but also in the possible loss of export markets in countries where this pest is considered an absent quarantine object. This can lead to additional economic costs for the disinfection of grain products being exported,” also stated Rosselkhoznadzor.