Russia is banning tobacco imports from Brazil and four other countries due to concern over the phytosanitary status of the tobacco, reports Datamar News.

The announcement was made by Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance, which said it had “concern about the phytosanitary status of tobacco from various countries around the world destined for the Russian Federation” and was worried about the systematic violation of the phytosanitary requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), reports Datamar News.
A statement from the website of the Russian Trade Representative in Brazil states that Russia had detected the presence of the Megaselia Scalaris fly in imported tobacco in 28 cases. The fly is listed as a quarantine pest in Russia and other EAEU members.
Brazil exported around 20,000 tons of non-manufactured tobacco and its waste to Russia in 2020 worth USD 43.7 million. The Ministry of Agriculture has not yet been officially informed about the decision, according to Datamar News.