Three batches of peaches imported by Russia from Macedonia, with a volume totalling 120 tonnes, were returned, as they were allegedly infected, reports Sitel.mk.
Russia announced that it was introducing a ban on the import of stone fruit from Macedonia and Serbia. Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Agriculture of Macedonia, Skopje will ask Moscow for this ban, which has come into force on 15 August because of the presence of Monilia fructicola on Macedonian stone fruit, to be temporary.
Macedonian authorities have started checking stone fruit orchards to look into the distribution of Monilia fructicola on the territory of Macedonia.
Monilinia fructicola not only affects the fruits, but also other parts of the plant, including flowers and branches. In warm and wet weather, one fruit can infect a whole orchard.
NVDA chief Dr Damyan Iliev, who explained to Monitor that the Monilinia fructicola is a fungus, assured that all fruit and vegetable supplies from Macedonia and other neighbouring countries are controlled by the agency to ensure the detection of this and other similar infections.
Source: monitor.bg