After reports of a Russian ban on EU seed potatoes, the Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight Service, has clarified the terms of the ban, which is due to take effect on April 1st.
The clarification communication states that potatoes produced in sterile conditions will not be subjected to the ban.
"Temporary restrictions on the import of seed potatoes from European Union countries do to concern seed product produced in sterile conditions from meristematic cells," the statement says.
The service said the ban was due to what it called "the systemic insufficiency of the scheme used in the Europe Union to ensure the safety of planting material, particularly seed potato, and the formality of the guarantees provided to importer countries."
To avoid such restrictions the EU needs to ensure Russia is supplied with information on the phytosanitary conditions where the potatoes are produced.
One of the biggest suppliers of seed potatoes to Russia is the Netherlands. Russia imported 11,000 tonnes last year, 26,000 tonnes the year before. This product is also supplied by Germany, Finland, Britain, and Poland.
