Russia Asks Iran to Suspend Certification of Flowers for Export to Russia
July 20, 2026 | 1 min to read
The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has asked Iran’s Plant Protection Organization to temporarily suspend the certification of flowers intended for export to Russia.
Rosselkhoznadzor is the Russian federal executive body responsible for agricultural and food safety oversight.
According to Rosselkhoznadzor, flower imports from Iran have increased significantly in 2026 compared with the same period last year. Although phytosanitary certificates identify Iran as the country of origin, the agency says the flowers’ appearance and packaging are identical to products that were previously imported from Armenia.
Rosselkhoznadzor noted that it had previously informed Iranian authorities about the temporary restrictions currently in place on flower products from Armenia. Because it did not receive a response, the agency requested that Iran temporarily suspend certification of flower exports to Russia until bilateral consultations can be held and the matter clarified.
The agency said this measure is intended to protect the phytosanitary security of Russia and the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), while ensuring compliance with existing import restrictions.
Russia has prohibited imports of cut flowers originating in and shipped from Armenia since May 22. Rosselkhoznadzor has indicated that it suspects some flowers exported from Iran may actually be products of Armenian origin that are being re-exported through Iran.