On May 19, the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AFSA) banned 17 companies from importing pepper and kiwi from Iran to Azerbaijan.

According to the information, according to the results of the conducted examination, the harmful organism "Gonur wrinkle virus" was detected in 19 batches of pepper products imported to Azerbaijan by companies of this country from Iran. "10 of that batch of products belong to 'Rasol Soleymanpour,' 4 to 'Amanj Sahragard,' 2 to 'Avoid Sarmayeh Asia Co,' 1 to 'Bazargani Diba Mehr Daryan,' 1 to Farhad Tejarat Ramin" and 1- Belongs to 'Sarah Jabaroti' company. In addition, in 34 batches of kiwifruit imported by Iranian companies, a harmful organism – 'Mulberry shield pad - was detected, which is subject to quarantine. Among the product batches that were found to be harmful, six were from 'Sarah Jabaroti, five from 'Ramin Cheraghi,' 4 were from 'Bahram Gostar Aras Shargh,' 3 from 'Sayed Ali Akbar Abul Maali' and three from 'Avoid Sarmayeh Asia Co.' belongs to the company. In each of the other 13 exporting companies, 1 case of non-compliance was identified," the information stated.

AFSA informed that notifications had been sent to Iran's National Plant Protection Organization regarding the detected cases, and it has been requested to tell about the result of investigating the non-conformities. "Nevertheless, we note with regret that cases of detection of inconsistencies continue. In addition to the mentioned companies, among the Azerbaijani importers Dry Fruits LLC, Frukt Is LLC, Ballı Store N LLC, and 'South Potato LLC, in the samples taken from pepper products imported to Azerbaijan from Iran, Gonur wrinkle virus, Amotrade LLC, Narnumru LLC, Fadak-1974 LLC, Freere Fructe LLC, Senergy Az LLC and South potato LLC, Mulberry shield pad was repeatedly detected in the kiwi product.

In connection with the detected cases, a temporary restriction was imposed on the import of pepper and kiwi products to Azerbaijan by the above-mentioned 9 Iranian and 8 Azerbaijani companies from May 17.