During the phytosanitary inspection of 8.39 tons of imported fresh tomatoes from Turkey at the customs destination, the regulated quarantine organism South American tomato moth (Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)) was found. This was reported by the press service of the Main Directorate of the State Food and Consumer Service of Ukraine in the Chernivtsi region.

The inspection of wooden packaging material revealed violations of IFR No. 15 “Guidelines for the regulation of wood packaging materials in international trade,” namely, the lack of labelling. According to the report, measures have been taken in regards to the unmarked packaging material with destruction under the control of a state phytosanitary inspector.

Last week, EastFruit reported that Rosselkhoznadzor has been allowing imports of tomatoes into Russia from 6 Uzbek enterprises since March 3rd of this year. The decision was made under the guarantees of the State Plant Quarantine Inspection under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was also based on the results of laboratory tests for the absence of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in the specified products of six companies from Kashkadarya and Navoi.

Сообщение Quarantine pest detected in batch of Turkish tomatoes in the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine появились сначала на EastFruit.

Last week, as EastFruit reported, Russia banned imports of greenhouse tomatoes and peppers from the Ferghana region of Uzbekistan due to detection of a quarantine object, particularly, the brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), in the products from this region. However, this ban may not be the biggest problem.

According to the international expert of greenhouse technologies Marite Gailite from the Latvian vegetable growers association Latvijas dārznieks, with Tobamovirus (ToBRFV), the situation may turn out to be much more threatening for the greenhouse business in Uzbekistan and the whole Central Asia than a ban on exports.

Read more: Uzbekistan: prices for greenhouse vegetables increased by 79% in 2020

“This virus persists in the soil and causes severe crop losses. If it continues spreading, it can lead to a significant reduction of the area under tomatoes in the region of Central Asia. And if infected tomatoes get to other regions, the situation for producers will be worse than what we have with Covid-19,” explains Marite Gailite.

Read more: Why is Uzbekistan killing their successful greenhouse industry?

In addition to tomatoes and peppers, Tobamovirus can also infect other nightshade crops, in particular, potatoes or tobacco. Since this virus began to cause damage to crops relatively recently, in many countries, it is not yet included in the list of quarantine objects, and its identification is difficult. Therefore, Uzbek greenhouses need to take the situation very seriously, quickly localise the focus of infection, and prevent the spread of the virus.

Other countries in the region may also introduce temporary bans of Uzbek products as a precautionary measure. In particular, Kazakhstan is already considering it. 

Likewise, Russian authorised services will soon check all imported lots of tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables for the virus. The greenhouse business in Russia today is one of the most modern in the world due to billions of dollars of investment made by domestic investors over the past five years.

Сообщение Central Asia’s greenhouse business under siege – Russian ban not greatest danger появились сначала на EastFruit.

The Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan will check vegetables imported from Uzbekistan for the presence of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus or ToBRFV.

The press service of the ministry said that on November 26th, Russia introduced a ban on the import of tomatoes and peppers produced in the Fergana region of Uzbekistan, Kun.uz writes.

“Due to the detection of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus since November 26, 2020, the import of tomatoes and peppers produced in the Fergana region of Uzbekistan has been banned in Russia. Now, we are studying the analysis of the current situation on possible threats and risks for the greenhouse farms of the republic, based on the results of the analysis, an appropriate decision will be made,” the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan said.

Read also: Geographical indications will appear on goods from Uzbekistan

EastFruit previously reported that since November 26th, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) has banned the import of tomatoes and peppers into Russia from the Fergana region.

According to the press service of the Rosselkhoznadzor, such a measure was taken in connection with the detection of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in tomatoes and peppers from this region.

Сообщение Following Russia, Kazakhstan may also ban Uzbek greenhouse vegetables imports появились сначала на EastFruit.