Rosselkhoznadzor Destroys Nearly 20 Tons of Turkish Tomatoes Near Orenburg
RIA Novosti
May 7, 2016

Rosselkhoznadzor (Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Compliance) specialists have destroyed 19.5 tons of Turkish tomatoes, which had been shipped from Kazakhstan, at a site near Orenburg, the agency’s website reported on Saturday.

“During inspection, labels were found on the cardboard boxes that indicated the country of origin was Turkey. On May 7, 2016, the restricted imported produce was, by decision of the proprietor (the cargo agent), destroyed by means of mechanical deformation with the tracks of a tractor and mixed with solid household waste at the Sol-Iletsk city landfill in Orenburg Region,” the statement read.

According to Rosselkhoznadzor, misdemeanor charges have been filed.

Relations between Russian and Turkey have been in crisis since a Turkish F-16 fighter aircraft shot down a Su-24 Russian bomber in Syria on November 24, 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin called it a “stab in the back” by accomplices of terrorists and signed a decree ensuring national security and introducing special economic measures against Turkey.

On January 1, 2016, the Russian Federation banned the import from Turkey of fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits, grapes, apples, pears, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, sloes, strawberries, tomatoes, onions, shallots, cauliflowers, broccoli, cucumbers, and gherkins. The carcasses and innards of chickens and turkeys, salt, and cloves also fell under the embargo.

Translated by the Ketchup Board