10 Mar 2023 18:09

Rosselkhoznadzor lifts ban on sunflower seed shipments from two French companies starting March 10

MOSCOW. March 10 (Interfax) - Rosselkhoznadzor lifted the ban on transporting sunflower seeds from two French companies, Lidea France and Limagrain Europe.

According to the service, deliveries are now possible due to guarantees from the French General Directorate for Food. Shipments are allowed from all sites in France belonging to these companies.

The decision was made taking into account the work done with the French national plant protection authority, and consideration of the materials submitted by the French side on the phytosanitary measures taken in relation to sunflower seeds intended for export to Russia.

If objects requiring quarantine are detected in the imported seed material, Rosselkhoznadzor will take emergency phytosanitary measures, the service said.

The import of sunflower seeds to Russia from sites and shipment locations belonging to these companies has been banned since July 6, 2022 due to the identification of an object subject to quarantine in Russia and Eurasian Economic Union member countries - sunflower phomopsis.

Phomopsis is one of the most harmful and rapidly spreading sunflower diseases in the world.