Kazakhstan bans import of more than 170 tonnes of potatoes from Russia without phytosanitary certificates

ALMATY. Sept 23 (Interfax) - The Kostanay Regional Territorial Inspectorate of Kazakhstan's Agriculture Ministry has banned the import of more than 170 tonnes of potatoes from Russia to Kazakhstan due to missing phytosanitary certificates, the Agriculture Ministry's press service said on Saturday.

"On September 18-19, the Kostanay Regional Inspectorate of Kazakhstan's Agriculture Ministry detected 12 violations at the Kairak phytosanitary control post on the border with Russia. As a result, state plant quarantine inspectors blocked the import of 170.9 tonnes of potatoes lacking phytosanitary certificates," the ministry said.

The entire shipment of potatoes was returned to the sender, the ministry said.

"Administrative protocols have been drawn up," it said.