61 tons of infected and potentially dangerous products banned from importing into Kazakhstan
Last week over 60 tons of infected and potentially dangerous imported cereals, berries, vegetables and fruits were detained and returned to senders by Ministry of Agriculture’s state quarantine inspectors. The products were brought to Kazakhstani consumers from the Russian Federation, China and Uzbekistan, Strategy2050.kz reports with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture.
In particular, hazardous quarantine pests - the black citrus whitefly Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby and the Comstock's mealybug Pseudococcus comstocki - were found in 22 tons of persimmons and tangerines.
In addition, due to the lack of labeling on packages, quarantine inspectors banned the import of more than 26 tons of persimmons, about 4.5 tons of grapes, almost 2.5 tons of tomatoes and 126 kg of lemon. Due to the lack of a phytosanitary certificate, 5 tons of wheat were not allowed to Kazakhstan’s market.
Additionally, several cases of importation of quarantineable products from Uzbekistan into hand luggage were suppressed in accordance with the previously established ban.
In just a week 15 attempts to smuggle plant agricultural products of high phytosanitary risk were stopped in Turkestan, Kostanay, Akmola and Almaty regions. All cargoes were returned to Uzbekistan, Russia and China, while the perpetrators were brought to administrative responsibility.
It should be reminded that President of Kazakhstan K. Tokayev signed a new law “On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Regulation of the Agro-Industrial Complex”, which, inter alia, is aimed at strengthening veterinary and phytosanitary control in the border areas. In addition, with the entry into force of the law, all control and supervision functions in the field of veterinary medicine and phytosanitary are assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture.
