Russia bans entry to over 400 tonnes of Egyptian potatoes
The competent Russian authorities in the Russian port of Novorossiysk, on the Black Sea, have seized three shipments of Egyptian potatoes weighing 439.5 tonnes due the presence of living larvae from the sweet potato butterfly.
According to the Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control Service, so far since the beginning of the year 14 shipments of Egyptian potatoes, weighing a total of 2,200 tonnes, have been prohibited from entering the Krasnodar Territory as a result of being infected with pests.
The sweet potato butterfly (Phthorimaea operculella) is a serious pest in many warm areas in the world, affecting agricultural crops, especially potatoes, aubergines, tomatoes, peppers and tobacco. They often multiply in storage facilities and cause between 25 and 80 percent of the potatoes stored to rot.
Earlier this month, the Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control Service of the Russian Federation also stopped two shipments of Egyptian oranges weighing more than 200 tonnes in the port of Novorossiysk due to the presence of pests and returned them to the source.
Fuente: http://www.freshplaza.com/article/139878/Russia-bans-entry-to-over-400-tonnes-of-Egyptian-potatoes
