MOSCOW, June 05. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s federal veterinary and phytosanitary control agency (Rosselkhoznadzor) imposes a temporary ban on imports of potatoes from Ukraine starting from June 16, 2014 over golden nematode periodically found in Ukrainian potatoes.

The ban is not applicable to potato batches imported from Ukraine before June 16, Rosselkhoznadzor’s press service said on Thursday.

Furthermore Rosselkhoznadzor gave its territorial departments instructions to strengthen phytosanitary control for other regulated products imported from Ukraine.

Russia is one of the major markets for Ukrainian potato. According to the Federal Customs Service (FCS) 6.5 tons of potatoes for an overall amount of $ 2.4 million was delivered to Russia in 2013.