Rosselkhoznadzor banning imports of sugar beet seeds from Germany's Betaseed as of Oct 26

MOSCOW. Oct 25 (Interfax) - Starting October 26, Rosselkhoznadzor will prohibit the import of sugar beet seeds from Germany's Betaseed GmbH into Russia, the agency reports.

This decision was made due to the identification of a Russian and EAEU-recognized quarantine object similar to dodder (Cuscuta spp.) in a batch of seeds.

Dodder affects sugar beets, potatoes, alfalfa, clover, vegetables, flax and other agricultural and wild woody plants. Feed containing dodder can lead to poisoning or even death in animals.

Potential economic damage, including from crop loss, as well as measures to localize and eliminate dodder outbreaks, could cost over 115 billion rubles, the report says.