MIFT comments on the imposition of restriction to import tomatoes and peppers from Fergana region to Russia

It is noted that together with the State Plant Quarantine Inspectorate under the Cabinet of Ministers and the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Russian Federation, consultations are being held on this issue with Rosselkhoznadzor.

According to the Russian side, the restrictions were introduced in connection with the detection of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in a batch of tomatoes from the Fergana region.

Earlier on the territory of Uzbekistan, ToBRFV was not recorded because it is a new strain of plant virus. There is also no ban for this virus in the EAEU countries – ToBRFV is not included in the Common List of Quarantine Objects, approved by the Decision of the EEC Council.

The MIFT, together with the State Plant Quarantine Inspectorate under the Cabinet of Ministers, initiated the operational development of a set of measures to prevent the appearance of this kind of viruses in products manufactured in Uzbekistan.

The MIFT stressed that the restrictions imposed by Rosselkhoznadzor do not apply to all manufacturers of Uzbekistan and apply only to products from the Fergana region. “Consultations with the Russian side are continuing. Measures are being taken to abolish the imposed restrictions in the near future,” the ministry added.