Russia imposes temporary import ban on Turkish eggplants

MOSCOW

Russia’s state food safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has imposed a temporary ban on imports of Turkish eggplants starting from April 25, it said on April 20, as reported by Reuters. 

The suspension followed continued deliveries of batches of eggplants contaminated with “quarantine organisms,” Rossekhoznadzor stated.

The Russian government has started to impose a raft of economic and trade sanctions against Turkey after the jet crisis erupted in November 2015. The ban applies to a range of Turkish products, including fruits and vegetables — such as tomatoes, cucumbers and apples — poultry products and salt, according to the list published on the Russian government’s website in December 2015. 

The ban went into effect on Jan. 1. 

Last month, Rosselkhoznadzor also reportedly announced plans to add peppers and pomegranates to the list of banned items after shipments reportedly failed to reach required food safety requirements.