Russia restricts tea supplies from Sri Lanka after finding beetle

News

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will place temporary restrictions on imports of all agricultural products from Sri Lanka, including tea, from Dec. 18, the Russian agricultural safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said on Thursday.

The watchdog said it had taken the decision to impose restrictions after it found an insect, known as the Khapra beetle, in the packaging of one consignment of tea from Sri Lanka.

Tea from Sri Lanka accounts for 23 percent of Russia’s tea market, with other supplies come from India, Kenya, China and Vietnam, Ramaz Chanturiya, the head of the Rusteacoffee association, was quoted as saying by RIA news agency.

Members of Rusteacoffee, an association of Russian tea producers, will ask Rosselkhoznadzor to resume tea imports from Sri Lanka but with tougher controls, he added.

Russia imported 141,300 tonnes of tea worth $436 million in the first 10 months of 2017, according to customs data. In Colombo, brokers were shocked by the developments saying this will cause a huge impact on prices. - ENDS -

Comments

Still No Comments Posted.

Leave Comments

Most Reviews

May 31, 2025

- 472 - 0

Flt Lt Kasun Cumaratunga , more than a pilot, a guardian remembered on his 37th death anniversary

Kasun, was born in 28th Sept 1964, the grandson of the legendary author and linguist Munidasa Cumaratunga and son of SSP Bindu Kumaratunga and Winifred

June 2, 2025

- 443 - 0

National Tax week launched

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) backed by the Excise and Customs Department today launched a fresh drive to collect taxes including some Rs.780 billion listed as ‘collectable defaults’.

June 2, 2025

- 342 - 0

SriLankan Airlines’ new A330 Fleet to perform low fly past over Colombo on Wed.

May 29, 2025

- 258 - 0

Mahindananda and Nalin Fernando Jailed

Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando have sentenced to 20 and 25 years respectively after they were found guilty in a case of fraud.

May 30, 2025

- 254 - 0

In Pix: Weather situation in Colombo

June 3, 2025

- 183 - 0

Krishanthi Kumaraswami convicts FR dismissed by SC

The Supreme Court today unanimously dismissed a Fundamental Rights petition filed by five convicts in the 1996 Krishanthi Kumaraswamy abduction, rape, and murder case.