Russia may lift Egypt potato ban

Russia may lift its ban on Egyptian potato imports if Russian experts are allowed to check their safety before they are supplied to the domestic market, food safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said on Wednesday. “Rosselkhoznadzor is ready to lift temporary restrictions on the importation of Egyptian potatoes into Russia, if Rosselkhoznadzor experts are allowed in the territory of Egypt to exercise pre-shipment phytosanitary control of potatoes designated for...the Russian market,” the watchdog said. Russia restricted potato imports from Egypt on June 3, 2011, citing health concerns. The watchdog claimed dangerous chemicals were systematically found in potato supplies from Egypt. The watchdog then partially lifted the ban but in September 2011 re-imposed restrictions on potato imports from Egypt, citing the same health concerns. Egypt, one of the world’s largest potato exporters, has threatened to take retaliatory measures against Russia if it maintains its ban on Egyptian potato imports.