Russia has blocked the entry of a shipment of Moroccan tomatoes after authorities said laboratory tests detected plant viruses, in a move that could add to trade frictions affecting one of the world’s fastest-growing tomato exporters.
Russia’s agricultural watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, said quarantine phytosanitary inspections were carried out on three consignments of fresh tomatoes totalling about 22 tonnes, according to Russian media reports.
Following the checks, around eight tonnes of tomatoes originating from Morocco and Turkey were barred from entering Russian territory after inspectors allegedly detected the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) and the pepino mosaic virus, the agency said.
“As a result of the inspection, the tomato brown rugose fruit virus and the pepino mosaic virus were found in the fresh tomatoes,” Rosselkhoznadzor was quoted as saying, adding that the findings were confirmed by laboratory analysis.
“To prevent the spread of quarantine diseases within the Russian Federation, the import of the contaminated batch has been prohibited,” the watchdog said.
The Moroccan authorities have not yet publicly commented on the reported ban.
Plant health restrictions are a sensitive issue for Morocco, which has rapidly expanded its agricultural exports in recent years, particularly to European and Eurasian markets. Tomatoes are among the country’s flagship export products and a key source of foreign currency earnings.
Morocco has emerged as one of the world’s largest tomato exporters, climbing from fifth to third place globally over the past two decades, according to industry data. The country now exports at least 767,000 tonnes of fresh tomatoes annually more than three times the volume shipped abroad in 2005.
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The tomato brown rugose fruit virus, first identified less than a decade ago, is considered highly contagious and can cause severe yield losses, while the pepino mosaic virus affects fruit quality and marketability. Both viruses have triggered import alerts and tighter inspections in several countries.
Russia has in the past used phytosanitary controls to regulate agricultural imports, occasionally prompting criticism from exporters who argue that such measures can act as non-tariff barriers to trade.
Moroccan tomatoes have increasingly faced scrutiny in foreign markets as export volumes rise, particularly in Europe, where producers have raised concerns about competition and compliance with plant health and environmental standards.
Despite this, Morocco has continued to diversify its export destinations, supported by investments in greenhouse production, logistics and quality control systems aimed at meeting international standards.
The reported blockage of the shipment comes as global agricultural trade remains under pressure from tighter biosecurity rules, climate-related risks and geopolitical tensions, all of which are reshaping supply chains for fresh produce.
For Morocco, maintaining access to key markets will depend on how quickly authorities and exporters can address phytosanitary concerns and reassure trading partners about the safety and quality
