Kazakh authorities have introduced a temporary ban on the import of Kyrgyz potatoes, after the number of infections with golden nematode has increased, according to kazpravda.kz.

“Since January this year, 79 cases were revealed and the import of infected potatoes was prevented; more than 1000 tons of infected products were returned to the Kyrgyz Republic”, the Kazakh Minister of Agriculture explained.

Given that the import of infected regulated products may lead to further mass spread of the centers of quarantine objects on the territory of the country, the Government of Kazakhstan has sent a claim to the Government of the neighboring country about the need to take urgent measures.  

“However, the Kyrgyz side has not responded. Moreover, cases of importation of infected potato from Kyrgyzstan are still identified. In this context, the Kazakh side, based on the provisions of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, the International Convention on Plant Protection, has introduced a temporary ban on the import of potatoes from the Kyrgyz Republic since May 4, 2016,” Kazakh Minister of Agriculture added.