Russia lifts embargo on Brazilian tobacco leaf imports

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Russia has lifted restrictions on tobacco leaf imports from Brazil, imposed in the middle of the month due to the presence of the humpback fly in supplies, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control (Rosselkhoznadzor) reported today.

According to a statement from the regulator, this decision was made following a report from the National Plant Protection Organization of Brazil on adopting “comprehensive phytosanitary measures” for the resumption of tobacco leaf supplies to Russia.

On July 19, Rosselkhoznadzor banned tobacco leaf imports from India, South Africa, Brazil, Tanzania, and Malawi after detecting humphead flies in the supplies.

The Russian phytosanitary control agency announced after imposing the veto that it had warned the competent bodies of the affected countries about the need for a further review of their exports to Russia in 2020.

However, India, South Africa, Brazil, Tanzania, and Malawi did not respond to the Russian regulator’s letter “and also did not take the necessary measures to stop supplies” of the damaged products.

The embargo generated great concern in the Russian tobacco industry, which warned about several companies’ possible cessation of production.

Thus, Eduard Vorontsov, director of the Tobacco Industry Development Council, said in a letter sent to the Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, that local producers would not be able to replace 90% of the tobacco affected by the embargo and would be forced to declare indefinite vacations for their workers.

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