The Georgian government has introduced a temporary embargo on the import of potatoes from Turkey, according to the document, the import ban will last until June 1, Georgian Public Television reports with reference to the country's State Revenue Service.
“The purpose of the ban is to avoid the spread of potato diseases throughout the country. These are temporary phytosanitary measures that will last until the completion of sowing operations, ”the statement says.
According to the Georgian Revenue Service, most of the potatoes come to Georgia from Turkey. So, from January 1, 2017 to this day, the volume of imports amounted to 21,6 thousand tons. The decision to ban was made after harmful organisms were found in 20 shipments of potatoes imported to Georgia from Turkey.
In particular, in eighteen cases, experts identified “potato cancer”. Laboratory research also found the presence of potato brown rot and "golden nematode". The pests were found in twelve shipments of Turkish potatoes that were imported in 2017. Potato moths were found in seven lots, potato crayfish in four, and in one case, experts discovered potato ring rot. It is noted that all consignments of the product in which such violations were revealed were returned back to Turkey.
Source: https://eadaily.com