Russia lifts three-year ban on Egyptian potato imports

The latest episode of the ergot soap opera comes as Russian authorities agreed to lift a 2015 ban on the import of Egyptian potatoes, according to a Trade and Industry Ministry statement. The ban, which was imposed on potatoes originating from eight farming areas in Egypt due to brown rot infections, will officially be lifted as of 6 June. Russian and Egyptian authorities had reached a final agreement on the sidelines of the Egyptian-Russian Economic Committee meetings held in Moscow last month. The two sides reportedly also agreed to avoid imposing large-scale bans should the issue arise again in the future, and to limit any necessary bans to specific producers.