Russia's agricultural watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, has reported a rise in phytosanitary violations in fruit and vegetable imports from Turkey. According to the agency, an increasing number of shipments contain quarantine pests or fail to meet safety standards.
The most frequent issues were found in shipments of grapes (23.4% of all violations), zucchini (21.3%), cherries (15.5%), and apples (11.6%). The agency urged Russian importers to exercise greater care when selecting Turkish suppliers and to strengthen quality control at the procurement stage.
Rosselkhoznadzor said it has sent official notifications to Turkish authorities, requesting investigations into each violation and corrective action. However, the agency noted that responses from Turkey's regulatory bodies are not always timely.
Turkey continues to be one of the largest suppliers of fruits and vegetables to Russia despite the concerns. Annual imports of Turkish produce are estimated between 1.2 and 1.5 million tonnes, accounting for roughly 13% of Russia's total fruit and vegetable imports.
Major product categories include citrus, stone and pome fruits, grapes, pomegranates, eggplants, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes.
Source: nsn.fm
