Russian Industry Fears over Indian Plant Import Ban

Source from:  tr.itsmyiq.com Jan 29, 2008 02/01/2008

Russia's tobacco industry is concerned about a ban imposed on the import of plant products from India, according to a report by Vinay Shukla for outlookindia.com. Russia's phytosanitary watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, is said to have suspended the import of all plant products from India after a grain pest, Khapra beetle, was allegedly found in a consignment of Indian sesame seeds at the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk. However, on Friday, under pressure from the tea lobby, it relaxed the ban on the import of bulk tea. Indian tobacco is said to account for about 10-12 per cent of Russia's leaf tobacco imports. Enditem