The ban on tobacco imports from Brazil and other countries into Russia has been lifted with immediate effect, according to Kohltrade.

Since 19 July, tobacco raw materials from Brazil, India, South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi have not allowed to be imported to Russia because a pest had been found in the products. Now, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has decided to lift the ban, as the pest in question, the multi-eating humpback fly is not included on the local list of agricultural pests, reports Kohltrade. This means that its appearance in raw materials is not regulated.
All raw materials are checked for insects before they are shipped however, pests can make their way into the goods when being loaded into containers in the Brazilian ports. The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture has now agreed with the Rosselkhoznadzor's request to check such cases and take measures to make sure all further supplies are safe.