On August 15, phytosanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor held talks with Nebojša Milosavljević, Director of the Plant Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia. The Russians expressed concerns with the detection of Monilinia brown rot (BR) in 12 consignments of peaches, nectarines and plums exported in July from Serbia to Russia.

It is worth reminding that in August, 2018, Rosselkhoznadzor had to suspend exports of all stone fruits from Serbia due to multiple cases of the indicated disease. Restrictions were lifted this year, on May 27, against guarantees of the Serbian National Plant Quarantine and Protection Service and on condition that only BR-free zones would be qualified for exports.

Nebojša Milosavljević said that he shared the concerns articulated by the Rosselkhoznadzor and undertook to hold investigations into all cases of exports of infected products to Russia. He went on to note that Serbia was currently implementing a programme for ensuring safety of products during exports to Russia. Two thousand samples of stone fruits were taken and tested under the programme and four suppliers and two hundred fruit manufacturers were excluded from the lists of entities authorized for trade relations with Russia.

The Rosselkhoznadzor demanded the Serbian side to enforce control over plant products exported to Russia as well as to send the results of the conducted tests and detailed information on the above-mentioned programme with an official letter to the Service.

It also stated that it reserved its right to impose temporary restrictions on imports of stone fruits from Serbia (EAEU HS code 0809) should the infected fruit continue to be imported to Russia.