The press service of the Agency for Plant Quarantine and Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture issued an official explanation of the reasons behind the ban on grape imports. This was reported by upl.uzreports.
According to the agency, international practice has shown that dangerous quarantine pests and diseases can enter the country via grapes. These include phylloxera that destroys grape roots (Viteus vitifoliae), the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which can wipe out thousands of hectares of vineyards, as well as grape fanleaf virus and viral diseases such as leafroll.
Experts warn that if such organisms enter a “clean area” and spread rapidly, eliminating them is nearly impossible. As a result, vineyards may have to be cut down, and restoration could take years. This is seen as leading to the closure of export markets and a serious blow to the economy.
The agency also noted that viticulture is a strategic sector in Uzbekistan: the country fully meets domestic demand. Currently, the republic has more than 160,000 hectares of vineyards, with annual production of about 1.8 million tons. The sector grows table and technical varieties, produces dried products, and employs 100,000 people in this field.
It was emphasized that Uzbek grapes are exported to Russia, Kazakhstan, China, the Middle East, and European markets. It was also stated that this year, exports were carried out for the first time to the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Kuwait, and the United States.
International experience shows that countries with developed viticulture—including the United States, Australia, and some European Union members—apply strict phytosanitary restrictions on grape imports.
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