Published
03/05/2026, 14:05On March 3, a large consignment of planting material from Uzbekistan was stopped at the Kyzyl-Kya phytosanitary checkpoint in the Batken region. 80,520 fruit and berry seedlings were not allowed into the country, and the shipment was returned to the sender.
According to the Department of Plant Protection, Quarantine, and Chemicalization under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, the ban is related to a new resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers.
From March 1, 2026, a temporary six-month ban on the import of fruit and berry seedlings is in effect in Kyrgyzstan, with the exception of an approved list of varieties. The restriction was introduced to strengthen control over planting material and support agricultural production.
The imported seedlings, which were stopped at the border, were not included in the list of permitted varieties, so their import was prohibited.
At the same time, the decree allows the import of a number of crops. Certain varieties of apple, pear, plums, apricots, cherries, and peaches, as well as grape, strawberry, raspberry, currant, sea buckthorn, almond, hazelnut, walnut, and pistachio seedlings — but only those varieties that are specified in a special government list.
In addition, the ban does not apply to planting material coming from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union as part of mutual trade, as well as transit through the territory of Kyrgyzstan.
The State Customs Service and relevant departments of the Ministry of Agriculture are responsible for monitoring compliance with the restrictions. Their task is to prevent the illegal import of planting material during the period of the temporary ban.
