Kazakhstan has thwarted attempts to import timber infested with dangerous pests from Russia. The total volume of infested lumber amounted to 125 cubic meters, reports infohub.kz.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic, three batches of coniferous pine lumber arrived from Russia, in which phytosanitary control detected larvae of the black pine sawyer beetle (Monochamus genus), a dangerous quarantine pest.
Two violations were recorded in the city of Semey in the Abai region during secondary inspection of batches of 40 cubic meters each. Another case was noted in Astana, where inspection found infestation in a batch of 45 cubic meters.
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of black pine sawyer larvae in all cases. Administrative offense reports were filed against the owners of the quarantined products under Part 2 of Article 400 of the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Administrative Offenses. The materials have been submitted to specialized administrative courts for consideration.
The Ministry of Agriculture reminds participants in foreign economic activity of the need to strictly comply with quarantine legislation when importing regulated products into the country.