The Government of the Russian Federation approved the list of prohibited imported crop seeds

The Russian government has approved a list of agricultural plants for which a temporary ban can be imposed on the import of their seeds from unfriendly countries. The corresponding decree, signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, is posted on the website of the official publication of regulatory legal acts.

     We are talking about such basic ones as wheat, meslin (its mixture with rye), seed potatoes, rye and barley, as well as soybeans, rapeseed, sunflower and sugar beets. Restrictions can be set at the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture from October to December 31 of the current year. If necessary, their term can be extended, the decision on this will be made according to the situation. The grounds may be the results of harvesting the relevant crops, the degree of provision of their seed fund and the need of the domestic market for the seed material of each of them separately.

     The measure was taken to accelerate import substitution in the field of seed production and improve food security in general. As for unfriendly countries, we note that in their case the ban can also serve security purposes. However, the restrictions will not apply to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the import of these products by citizens for their personal needs and for transit through the territory of the Russian Federation. The volumes of seeds allowed for import are also planned to be carefully regulated. With a further increase in domestic production over the next three years, they will also be gradually reduced. The Ministry of Agriculture was also instructed, if necessary, to provide the government with proposals on the volume of quotas for the import of seeds and on the rules for their distribution.

     The plans to introduce restrictions on the import of foreign seeds to Russia from October of this year were discussed in May at the All-Russian Grain Forum by the Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev. Then he clarified that they "won't be critical."