During quarantine, phytosanitary control at the temporary storage warehouse of TLT-Zabaikalsk LLC, a shipment of 5,123 tons of tomatoes from China revealed the presence of the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). The infection was confirmed through virological studies conducted by the Zabaikalsk branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Grain Quality Assessment Center." This marks the fifth case of virus detection in imported products in 2023, with tomatoes being affected for the first time.
ToBRFV spreads through fruits, seeds, and seedlings of nightshades, causing a 70-80% yield reduction and sometimes complete crop loss in greenhouses. However, it poses no threat to human health.
In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1, Article 4 of Decision No. 157 of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated November 30, 2016, "On the Approval of Unified Phytosanitary and Quarantine Requirements for Subquarantine Products and Subquarantine Objects at the Customs Border and Customs Territory of the Eurasian Economic Union," the import of the contaminated subquarantine product into the territory of the Russian Federation is prohibited.
The shipment of contaminated subquarantine products, as per international plant quarantine laws and upon the request of the foreign economic activity participant, is subject to return to the exporting country, the People's Republic of China.
Source: fsvps.gov.ru