Russia introduces new regulations for importing flowers, buds from Armenia from June 27

MOSCOW. June 27 (Interfax) - The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has implemented new rules for importing cut flowers and buds from Armenia effective from June 27.

From this date onwards, importing floral products will only be permitted from production sites that ensure traceability throughout the entire supply chain, from cultivation to sale, Rosselkhoznadzor said.

"The decision was made due to a sharp increase in shipments of flowers from Armenia to Russia with unverified phytosanitary status, as well as to ensure phytosanitary security and the import of genuinely Armenian floral products," it said.

An analysis of information provided by Armenia's competent authorities revealed that "the Armenian origin of floral products supplied to Russia cannot be traced, and their production and phytosanitary status are not regulated by the country's state bodies and are chaotic," it said. Despite previously agreed measures to strengthen phytosanitary controls by Armenia, there were 20 cases where infected flowers were intercepted from entering Russia in 2025. Since the beginning of the year, 14.6 million flowers have not been presented in Russia for phytosanitary inspection.

"This confirms the current inability of the Armenian side to ensure phytosanitary safety and traceability of floral products shipped to Russia, facilitates the supply of flowers of unknown origin with hazardous phytosanitary status, and does not rule out the entry of quarantined products uncertified under EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union] requirements into the Russian market," Rosselkhoznadzor said.

Rosselkhoznadzor previously announced plans to ban flower imports from third countries via Armenia starting June 16 due to increasing detections of quarantine pests in shipments. According to the service's data, imports of cut flowers from Armenia have surged in 2025. By early June, 52 million units had been inspected, one and a half times more than the 34.7 million units imported during the same period in 2024. Inspections revealed flowers infested with western flower thrips.