Russia Adds Eggplants to Turkish Food Embargo

 

Russia will ban the import of Turkish eggplants from the end of April, the Meduza news website reported Wednesday.

 

The measure was undertaken “due to the continued arrival in Russia of infested Turkish eggplants requiring quarantine,” the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance said. The ban will begin on April 25.

 

The ban is the latest embargo placed upon Turkish food products since January after a Russian Su-24 aircraft was shot down by the Turkish Air Force last year.

 

Last month, Russian food watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, announced plans to add peppers and pomegranates to the list of banned items after shipments reportedly failed to reach required food safety requirements.

 

The Russian Federation banned food imports from the EU in August 2014 in reaction to sanctions imposed on the country for its role in the Ukraine crisis. Since 2015, all food illegally brought into the country is destroyed, Meduza reported.