Rosselkhoznadzor concerned over regular violations of quarantine  norms in flowers imported from Armenia 

ArmInfo.  On June 16, Rosselkhoznadzor held videoconference talks with the Food Safety Inspectorate of Armenia on the issue of increased violations in the  supply of plant products from the Republic to Russia. This was  reported by the press service of Rosselkhoznadzor.  Earlier, the  Russian agency expressed serious concern due to the sharp increase in the volume of cut flower imports from Armenia and systematic cases of detection of quarantine objects in plant products. These facts gave rise to speculation about a decrease in control by the competent Armenian agency over the export of goods and the supply of flowers from third countries. In order to prevent the worsening of the quarantine phytosanitary situation in Russia, a letter was sent to the Food Safety Inspectorate of Armenia with a request to take comprehensive measures and strengthen control over the supplied products. Currently, Rosselkhoznadzor is waiting for information from  colleagues on the range, volumes, places of production, reasons for the increase and plans for the supply of flowers to Russia. In addition, since the beginning of 2025, 43% of Armenian cargo has not been presented for quarantine phytosanitary control at the destination. Cut flowers are of particular concern: in June of this year, 78 out of 80 batches were not presented for control. The Service asked to work with exporters on the need for mandatory submission of goods for control at the points of receipt, to immediately suspend the issuance of phytosanitary certificates to organizations that have not previously been involved in the export and import of flowers, and to increase the responsibility of participants in foreign economic activity. In the absence of the necessary response measures and the continued identification of quarantine objects, Rosselkhoznadzor will be forced to introduce additional phytosanitary measures. Representatives of the competent  Armenian agency assured of work on the introduction of an effective mechanism to strengthen phytosanitary control.

The parties also discussed issues related to the integration of  information systems. Rosselkhoznadzor believes that a direct merger would help increase the speed of information exchange, regulate relations between economic entities, and increase their responsibility for a more transparent system of trade turnover between Russia and Armenia. In this regard, the competent agencies will also work together.

The Service recalled that on June 10, 2025, during the establishment of the quarantine phytosanitary condition of cut flowers originating from Armenia in 3 vehicles in the amount of 74.9 thousand pieces, a quarantine object for the Russian Federation was detected - western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Perg.). Information about the detection was sent to the territorial office of Rosselkhoznadzor for response measures. By decision of the owner of the batch, all  infected flowers were returned to the country of departure. Since the beginning of the year, as of June 11, 44 cases of quarantine organisms have been detected in plant products, including 37 cases of California scale (apples, peaches), 1 case of tomato brown wrinkle virus on tomatoes and 6 cases of western flower thrips in cut flowers.