Russia, Turkey mull problem of exports of fruits with fruit flies

MOSCOW, Dec 5 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight has met with representatives of Turkey to discuss exports of Turkish fruits infested with fruit flies, the service said in a statement on Wednesday.

Over the past 10 years, the service discovered 130 batches of citrus fruit infested with fruit flies and that were meant for Russia.

“The Turkish side has acknowledged the fact that the situation is negative and pointed out that the weather conditions in Turkey in 2018 were exceptionally favorable for expansion of the pest, namely the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata, while measures of farmers to curb the expansion were inefficient,” the statement read.

Currently, the service has to conduct pre-loading inspections of citrus fruits that Turkey wants to export to Russia, the service said.

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