Russia has sent a strong message to Polish apple exporters who hope to sneak apples into the country via the gray trade, by disposing of a recent shipment into a landfill site rather than sending it back across the border to Kazakhstan. 

Photos published on Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance's (Rosselkhoznadzor) website appear to show boxes of apples from a 20 metric ton (MT) shipment intercepted last week strewn over the site as a bulldozer pushes them away.

The shipment was caught entering the Russian region of Astrakhan from Kazakhstan on Thursday (March 26) and was reportedly accompanied by documentation stating the fruit had originated from Moldova, where a few specific apple exporters are allowed to ship to Russia.

However, Rosselkhoznadzor said a visual inspection had found markings indicating the products had been grown in Poland.

A statement from the food safety watchdog said regulated products could be disposed of in the Astrakhan region under the presidential decree signed by Vladimir Putin last August banning the imports of certain agricultural products from EU countries, the U.S., Canada and Australia.

The ban was established in response to economic sanctions imposed on Russia and certain individuals by those countries due to Russia's involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.

Although Russian authorities have intercepted several shipments of Polish apples in the months following the ban, this is the first time they have published photos of fruit being destroyed.

Earlier in March, Rosselkhoznadzor blocked a 58.5MT Polish apple shipment from entering the country and in November 21MT were intercepted en route  from Kazakhstan.

In the broader context of European apples and the Russian market, last week Rosselkhoznadzor appeared to be considering a ban on Serbian apple imports amid suspicions Polish apples were being re-exported.

However, a couple of days later Russia's ambassador to Serbia reportedly said he was confident no ban would be imposed, and a report highlighted Serbia's new system of electronically sending phytosanitary certificates to Russia in advance to avoid confusion.

Photos: Rosselkhoznadzor

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