Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has reported an increase in the detection of quarantine pests in fruit and vegetable products imported from Uzbekistan, prompting discussions between the two countries on strengthening phytosanitary controls and export monitoring procedures.
On June 1, Rosselkhoznadzor held videoconference talks with representatives of Uzbekistan’s Food Safety Committee, which was recently established within the Agency for Quarantine and Plant Protection, as well as officials from the Committee for Veterinary Development and the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare.
According to Rosselkhoznadzor, the discussions focused on measures to ensure the phytosanitary safety of fruit and vegetable products exported from Uzbekistan to Russia. The agency stated that the talks were held in response to an increasing number of detections of pests that are subject to quarantine regulations within member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Rosselkhoznadzor said the Uzbek side expressed readiness to create conditions that would facilitate the supply of agricultural products meeting phytosanitary requirements for the Russian market.
Separately, Uzbekistan’s Agency for Quarantine and Plant Protection reported that an online meeting had taken place with representatives of Rosselkhoznadzor to discuss the supply of phytosanitary-safe agricultural products.
According to the agency, the parties reviewed plans for the development of a new quarantine control mechanism covering agricultural exports. The proposed approach will focus on the cultivation and export of products that comply with international phytosanitary standards.
The discussions also covered measures to strengthen monitoring of agricultural land and orchards, as well as the dissemination of updated export requirements to producers.
Uzbek officials presented information on regular inspections of agricultural areas, phytosanitary monitoring conducted through an automated information system, and laboratory testing procedures applied to export-oriented agricultural products.
Following the talks, the parties agreed to conduct additional inspections and implement necessary measures in cases where quarantine organisms are detected in exported goods.
The two sides also agreed to continue holding regular consultations on agricultural export and import issues, including phytosanitary controls and quarantine requirements.
The discussions took place shortly after reports emerged regarding possible restrictions on fruit and vegetable imports from Uzbekistan.
Last week, Rosselkhoznadzor published a notice indicating that restrictions on imports of certain fruit and vegetable products from Uzbekistan would take effect on May 30. The notice was later removed from the agency’s website, and the webpage became unavailable.
According to reports, the deleted notice referenced concerns related to phytosanitary compliance and included a list of 10 Uzbek exporters.
Following the removal of the publication, Rosselkhoznadzor issued a new statement clarifying its position. The agency announced that it had contacted the competent authorities of Uzbekistan to conduct technical consultations aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted supply of fruit and vegetable products to the Russian market.
