MOSCOW, July 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russian agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor is considering banning fruit imports from Greece next week due to the repeated supply of fruit contaminated with oriental fruit moths, a senior official said Thursday.
“Our experts are currently examining the seriousness of the situation, and assessing the risks. The assessment will be over in a couple of days, at the beginning of next week. ... After that, there is a possibility of imposing restrictions on Greek fruit imports to Russia,” said Alexei Alexeyenko, Rosselkhoznadzor’s deputy head.
According to Alexeyenko, the decision will depend on the scale of the problem.
“The fruit season has just begun, starting the fruit supplies from Greece. We will examine them as well, and decide,” he explained.
According to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, in 2013 Greek fruit supplies to Russia included citrus fruits, grapes, melons, apples, pears, apricots, cherries, peaches and plums, and other fresh fruit.
Fruit comprised about 34 percent of the $611.3 million in Greek imports to Russia.
The share of Greek apricots, nectarines, peaches and cherries has reached 12.5 percent of the Russian market, while Greek supplies of fruit falling into the category of “other fresh fruit” (raspberries, wild strawberries, etc.) was estimated at 15.7%. The share of the other fruit supplied by Greece to Russia is less significant.
