OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus has introduced temporary restrictions on the import of seed and table potato from the EU states from February 1, 2014, the Agriculture and Food Ministry of Belarus said in a statement.

Belarus has also restricted the import of planting material (except for that imported for variety tests and research and development usage). An exception is supplies from nurseries located on the EU territory and recognized in terms of the corresponding internationals standards as places, zones and production sectors not labelled as quarantine facilities for Belarus and Russia, the ministry said.

According to the Agriculture and Food Ministry, temporary restrictions have been introduced following repeated requests of Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance and in line with Articles 6 and 8 of the Customs Union on Plant Quarantine of 11 December 2009, the principles of the International Plant Protection Convention.