Russian agro watchdog bans import of infected grapes from Turkey

Russia’s agricultural watchdog has banned the import of 49 tons of infected grapes from Turkey. In the port of Novorossiysk, southern Russia, Rosselkhoznadzor specialists exposed western flower thrips, one of the most dangerous pests of vegetable, ornamental and flower plants, in two batches of grapes from Turkey. Last year the watchdog found 38 batches of apricots, peaches, strawberry, cucumbers, tomatoes and pepper infected with the western flower thrips. Eighty-three percent of fruit and vegetables were imported from Turkey and another 17 percent from Israel and Jordan. All goods violating Russia’s phytosanitary requirements were returned to exporters.