Russian food safety regulator Rosselkhoznadzor has announced a partial ban on banana imports from Ecuador, the globe's top banana exporter. The ban, effective from February 5, was instated after the discovery of a harmful pest, the polyphagous humpback fly (Megaselia scalaris Loew), in shipments from five Ecuadorian exporters.
This insect is deemed a significant quarantine risk for Russia and EAEU nations, given its ability to contaminate a variety of products and carry diseases like cholera and bee plague. Rosselkhoznadzor has called on Ecuadorian suppliers to investigate producers and hinted at more stringent measures if steps are not taken to prevent the supply of unsafe bananas to Russia, one of Ecuador's largest banana consumers.
The ban follows recent statements by Ecuador's president, Daniel Noboa, regarding plans to trade obsolete Russian and Ukrainian military equipment for new US-made hardware, a move that Russia claims violates existing agreements. Ecuador wants to transfer some of its old Russian military equipment to the US in exchange for new military equipment worth $200 million.
The Russian Foreign Ministry protested Noboa's decision, saying it violated a contract that stipulates that Ecuador cannot sell equipment to third parties without Russia's approval.
Source: bignewsnetwork.com