Between May 22 and June 2, 2025, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) reported the interception of multiple shipments of imported flowers contaminated with quarantine pests across various regions in Russia.
Amur Region
At the Kani-Kurgan checkpoint, Rosselkhoznadzor blocked a shipment of 16,000 infected stems. The shipment, which included carnations, lisianthus, statice, and other varieties, was part of a larger consignment of 230,000 stems imported from China. The presence of Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) was detected. Additionally, chrysanthemums were banned under current import restrictions.
Sverdlovsk Region
In Yekaterinburg, 65 chrysanthemum stems from the Netherlands tested positive for chrysanthemum white rust (Puccinia horiana). These flowers were part of a 100,600-stem shipment from Lithuania and were subsequently destroyed.
Sochi
At Sochi Airport, 1,000 alstroemeria stems from Armenia were denied entry due to the presence of live Western flower thrips.
Primorsky Krai
Over 27,000 contaminated stems were found in three shipments from China. One batch has already been destroyed, and the remaining contaminated stems are scheduled for disposal by June 6. This year, a total of 22 cases of Western flower thrips have been detected in Chinese flower imports, affecting nearly 288,000 stems.
Chelyabinsk Region
In Chelyabinsk, 350 sunflower stems in a shipment of 98,000 from China tested positive for thrips. The infected flowers will undergo disinfection.
These interceptions highlight the ongoing efforts by Rosselkhoznadzor to enforce strict quarantine measures and protect Russia’s agricultural and horticultural sectors from invasive pests.
