Kazakhstan has prevented the import of more than 113 tons of produce contaminated with dangerous quarantine pests. Shipments of lettuce, barley, and tomatoes from Iran and Russia were stopped during phytosanitary checks, according to infohub.kz.
The Ministry of Agriculture reported that at the Temir-Baba automobile checkpoint in the Mangystau region, a 9.9-ton batch of iceberg lettuce from Iran was found to contain western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). The same pest was detected at the Zhaisan checkpoint in the Aktobe region in a 0.7-ton batch of iceberg lettuce from the Orenburg region of Russia.
Additionally, three batches of food barley totaling 100 tons imported from Russia were found to contain creeping thistle (Acroptilon repens), a quarantine weed that poses a threat to agricultural land.
In the Aktobe region, during inspection of a 3-ton batch of tomatoes from Russia, specialists found two quarantine pests: the South American tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) and tomato brown rugose fruit virus.
Protocols have been drawn up, materials sent to court, and fines imposed.