Rosselkhoznadzor has raised concerns about the unsafe supply of bananas from Ecuador to Russia. In response, the ministry announced the temporary suspension of banana certification for five exporters that violated established requirements, effective February 5. The action reflects ongoing scrutiny of fruit imports and the need to uphold plant health standards across borders.
Officials noted that a dangerous quarantine organism, the polyphagous fruit fly, was repeatedly detected in bananas originating from Ecuador. This persistent finding underscores the risk of introducing a non-native pest that could threaten local ecosystems and agricultural sectors if not properly controlled.
In light of these detections, Rosselkhoznadzor warned that without decisive corrective measures, the agency may proceed to additional restrictive steps. Such measures would aim to further safeguard agricultural supply chains and prevent potential pest establishment, balancing trade considerations with strict biosafety requirements.
At the end of January, Rosselkhoznadzor also moved to temporarily restrict the import of animal feed from a Serbian facility of the Italian company Farmina due to repeated arsenic detections in its composition. The ban covers dry pet foods marketed under several brands, including Farmina, Matisse, Ecopet, Cibau, Fun Dog (Cat), and Vet Life. The restrictions came into effect on January 31, with a provision allowing deliveries sent before that date to proceed subject to mandatory laboratory verification before entry into the country.
Previously, measures were enacted that prohibited seed imports from the Netherlands, reflecting ongoing assessments of import safety and phytosanitary risk management. The cumulative effect of these actions illustrates a broader strategy to enforce strict quality control and safeguard domestic agricultural industries from foreign-origin threats while continuing to monitor and adjust policies as new data emerge.