Kazakhstan has returned approximately 30 tons of tomatoes to exporting countries due to concerns over a dangerous virus, with 4.2 tons sent back to Uzbekistan, the State Inspection Committee in the Agroindustrial complex of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan reported.
In 2024 alone, a volume of tomato products, totaling 15.6 mn tons, was imported into Kazakhstan via 1,075 vehicles passing through phytosanitary control posts situated in the Turkestan region.
However, strict adherence to phytosanitary requirements led to the rejection of 29,522 tons of tomatoes destined for export due to various violations, such as the absence of a phytosanitary certificate or label.
Each imported batch of tomatoes, along with eggplants and sweet peppers, underwent thorough quarantine phytosanitary assessments to ascertain the presence of any infectious agents. It was during these examinations that the presence of the "tomato brown rot virus" was detected, prompting the decision to return affected products to their countries of origin.
Apart from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan also returned 56.1 tons of tomatoes to Turkmenistan as part of its efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Since the beginning of 2024, a total of 497,624 tons of imported products failing to meet phytosanitary requirements have been intercepted and returned to designated phytosanitary control points.
Earlier it was reported that Uzbekistan's tomato exports reached 8,000 tons in the first quarter of 2024, generating revenue of $8.7mn. This indicates a 33.3% decline compared to the 12,000 tons exported during the same period in 2023.
Specifically, in March 2024, tomato exports amounted to 2,900 tons. In 2023, Uzbekistan's tomato exports totaled 57,500 tons, valued at $44mn, marking a decrease of 24.7% from the 76,400 tons exported in 2022.
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