Officials working for Russia's phytosanitary control body Rosselkoznadzor have confirmed they are considering a ban on fruit and vegetables imported from Poland, after the alleged discovery of what they described as 'excessive' pesticide residues and nitrate content
Rosselkhoznadzor chief Sergei Dabkvert has apparently asked Poland's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Marek Sawicki to take measures to improve the situation.
'If no efficient measures are taken, Rosselkhoznadzor will have to look at imposing a temporary ban on imports of products of high phytosanitary risks from Poland, including via third countries, to protect Russia’s territories from phytosanitary threats,' the organisation's press service said in a statement.
Rosselkhozhadzor had already warned Poland of a possible ban on imported fresh produce last autumn, when it raised concerns about the possible risk posed by certain agricultural products.
Poland's fresh fruit and vegetable exports to Russia are largely dominated by apples and are reckoned by the Polish authorities to be worth more than €1bn per year.
