MOSCOW, July 31. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary watchdog (Rosselkhoznadzor) said on Thursday it might impose a ban on imports of plant products from the European Union over quarantine pests regularly found in such products.

“Recent cases indicate that the European system of quarantine security does not work,” Sergei Dankvert, the Rosselkhoznadzor chief, told ITAR-TASS.

Currently, Dankvert said, Rosselkhoznadzor was collecting evidence base on all cases when quarantine pests had been found in batches of plant products from EU countries to assess possible risks. The agency plans to organize consultations with phytosanitary services of the European Commission and individual countries of the European Union, Dankvert added.

On Wednesday, Rosselkhoznadzor banned fruit and vegetable imports from Poland, a key supplier of apples, pears, queen-apples, cherries, sweet cherries and cabbage to Russia, on grounds that these products were infected by Oriental fruit moths.

Earlier on Thursday, Alexei Alexeyenko, an aide to the Rosselkhoznadzor head, said the agency might impose a ban on imports of farming products from Greece, which exports citrus fruit, grapes, melon, apples, pears, apricots, cherries and sweep cherries, peaches, plums and other fruits to Russia.