MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. Russian agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor does not plan to lift phytosanitary restrictions on agricultural products from Turkey in the near future, the agency’s official representative Yulia Melano told TASS.

"Those restrictions that have been, to date, remain and so far we do not plan to lift them. Definitely not in the near future," Melano said.

Earlier on Friday, the Russian government lifted the ban on exports of onions, cauliflower, broccoli and carnations from Turkey, according to the Government’s decision posted on its official website.

The Russian government banned supplies of a number of food products from Turkey to Russia from January 1, 2016. Thus, import of fruits (oranges, tangerines, grapes, apples, pears, apricots, peaches and nectarines, plums, wild strawberries and strawberries) and vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower, broccoli, yellow onions). Also, supplies of frozen turkey, chicken, fresh Turkish pinks and salt has been banned. Those restrictions were introduced amid political tensions between the countries.

In spring 2016, Rosselkhoznadzor banned import of certain vegetable products due to phytosanitary reasons. Import of bell pepper, pomegranates, aubergines, lettuce, Iceberg lettuce, marrow squashes and pumpkins was prohibited.

In October 2016, Russia partially removed restriction on imports of Turkish agricultural products and allowed import of number of fruits.