Uzbekistan, Russia agree on new joint quarantine controls for fruit and vegetable exports

Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev announced via LinkedIn that he met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev on June 5 on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF–2026). The meeting was also attended by Russian Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut and Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Khurram Teshabaev.

During the talks, Khodjaev emphasized that Russia remains a key partner for Uzbekistan in agriculture and food security. Trade turnover in agricultural and food products between the two countries reached $2.3 billion in 2025, and has already surpassed $500 million in the first quarter of this year. The discussions focused on ensuring uninterrupted supply chains, enhancing trade, veterinary, and phytosanitary cooperation, and preserving stable conditions for importing socially significant goods and raw materials. Khodjaev noted the importance of long–term predictability and mutual benefit for businesses in both nations, while Patrushev highlighted the significant remaining potential for expanding bilateral ties.

The meeting follows recent mixed signals from Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor). Last week, the regulator published a notice announcing import restrictions on 10 specific Uzbek fruit and vegetable exporters effective May 30, citing an increase in compliance issues with regulated goods. However, Rosselkhoznadzor shortly deleted the press release from its website, causing the page to return a 404 error, and subsequently issued a clarification. The agency then stated it had reached out to Uzbek authorities to initiate technical negotiations to ensure uninterrupted shipments.

Uzbekistan’s Agency for Plant Protection and Quarantine quickly refuted claims of any trade ban on May 30, confirming that deliveries of Uzbek produce to the Russian market were proceeding as normal.

To formalize solutions, Rosselkhoznadzor and Uzbekistan's Food Safety Committee held technical talks on June 1. The two oversight bodies agreed to establish a new mechanism for quarantine control during exports and to conduct regular joint inspections. The plan includes tightening the monitoring of orchards and cultivation fields across Uzbekistan, while ensuring that local producers are fully updated on Russia's revised export requirements. Rosselkhoznadzor confirmed that the action plan was drawn up to guarantee the phytosanitary safety of goods being shipped to Russia, following a rise in instances where pests or diseases prohibited in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) were detected.