Sanitary inspectors banned a batch of about 20 tonnes of Moldovan apples from entering Russia after it was found to be contaminated with larvae of an Oriental fruit moth species, and namely Grapholita molesta Busck, IPN reports.

A press release from Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia’s agriculture watchdog agency, said the contamination was confirmed by lab tests.

Meanwhile, Moldovan specialists say certain concentrations of pests in fresh fruit is something natural and should not be a reason for disqualifying an entire batch.

Earlier, Moldova’s Food Safety Agency director Gheorghe Gaberi told IPN that when larvae are discovered in fruits, international good practice prescribes fumigation as a way to prevent the pests from developing. However, in Russia, Oriental fruit moths are on the quarantine list and are a reason for refusing entrance.