Rosselkhoznadzor to return 53 tonnes of Egyptian oranges infested with fruit flies
KRASNODAR. July 29 (Interfax) - The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) has prohibited the import of 53 tonnes of Egyptian oranges infested with fruit flies, the agency's southern branch said.
The fruit arrived at the Port of Novorossiysk by sea. During an inspection, Mediterranean fruit flies were found.
The All-Russian Plant Quarantine Center confirmed the agency's conclusions.
The cargo will be returned to Egypt.
The Mediterranean fruit fly feeds on around 200 varieties of tropical and subtropical fruit (oranges, mandarins, lemons, bananas, pomegranates), along with apricots, plums, apples, and cherries, as well as vegetables from the nightshade family, such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.