March 15, 2007	Thursday	Safar 25, 1428

MOSCOW, March 14: Russia will ban rice imports from Pakistan from March 19 after finding a shipment infected with a dangerous pest, the animal and plant health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said on Wednesday.

“We have discovered a shipment of Pakistani rice containing Khapra beetle larvae,” Rosselkoznadzor’s chief Sergei Dankvert told Reuters.

The Khapra beetle is one of the most important stored product pests worldwide. Young larvae feed on damaged seed, while older larvae are able to feed on whole grains. The Khapra beetle can also damage dry commodities of animal origin. Large numbers of larval skins and setae may cause dermatitis and allergic reactions.

In February, Russia threatened to ban imports of rice from one of its main suppliers, India, from May 1 if shipments were not accompanied by certificates stating which pesticides have been used to treat it.

Moscow used to import 400,000-500,000 tons of rice per year until it imposed a tariff of 70 euros ($92.32) per ton in April 2005. Imports shrank to 300,000-350,000 tons after that, analysts have said.

At the beginning of December, Russia stopped all rice imports on health grounds but promised to restart them later under stricter control via a reduced number of ports.

—Reuters