Armenia has notified the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures regarding sanitary and phytosanitary measures for fresh or chilled vegetables and fruits. The regulation affects fresh vegetables and fresh fruits under HS codes 070999, 070910, 070920, and 070960.
Armenia Imposes New Phytosanitary Rules on Fresh Produce
Importers must now meet unified quarantine requirements across the Eurasian Economic Union.
What changed
Fresh and chilled fruits and vegetables are now regulated under new phytosanitary measures.
Imports must comply with the Eurasian Economic Union’s common quarantine phytosanitary requirements.
Specific HS codes (070999, 070910, 070920, 070960) are now subject to these controls.
Who it affects
Importers of fresh produce must ensure their shipments meet the new EAEU quarantine standards.
Exporters to Armenia must provide phytosanitary certificates for products under the specified HS codes.
Key dates
Compliance Analysis: Armenia’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures for Fresh or Chilled Vegetables and Fruits
Direct Answer
Armenia, through the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), has proposed amendments to the Common Quarantine Phytosanitary Requirements for Regulated Products and Pests at the customs border and within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). These amendments introduce phytosanitary requirements for specific fresh or chilled vegetables and fruits under HS codes 070999, 070910, 070920, and 070960, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and ginger. The measures aim to prevent the introduction of regulated pests, such as Ralstonia solanacearum (potato brown rot) and Pseudococcus comstocki (Comstock mealybug), and align with International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards1.
Regulation Analysis
1. Scope of the Regulation
The draft Decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission amends the Common Quarantine Phytosanitary Requirements to include:
- Fresh or chilled vegetables and fruits under the following HS codes1:
- 0702 (tomatoes, fresh or chilled)
- 070960 (peppers, fresh or chilled)
- 070930 (eggplants/aubergines, fresh or chilled)
- 091011 (ginger, neither crushed nor ground, fresh)
- 0803 (bananas, including plantains, fresh)
- 0806 (grapes, fresh or dried)
- Live plants and seedlings (e.g., olive, mulberry, strawberry, banana, fig, and guava plants) are also covered but fall outside the HS codes specified in the user’s question1.
The regulation applies to all trading partners1.
2. Key Phytosanitary Requirements
The amendments establish the following mandatory requirements for the listed products:
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Authority | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Quarantine Phytosanitary Requirements (EAEU) | Absence of Ralstonia solanacearum (potato brown rot) for regulated products, including fresh vegetables. Importers must provide phytosanitary certificates confirming compliance with ISPM standards1. | Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) | 1 |
| Requirements for fresh/dried grapes | Absence of Pseudococcus comstocki (Comstock mealybug). Grapes must undergo inspection and certification to verify pest-free status1. | EEC | 1 |
| Alignment with IPPC Standards | The regulation conforms to ISPM Nos. 1, 4, 7, 10, and 20 (e.g., pest risk analysis, phytosanitary certification, and inspection requirements)1. | International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) | 1 |
| Phytosanitary Certification | All shipments of covered products must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of the exporting country1. | EEC / Armenia’s NPPO | 1 |
3. Regulatory Timeline and Process
- Notification Date: 9 January 2026 (WTO SPS Notification G/SPS/N/ARM/62)1.
- Comment Period: Stakeholders might submit comments until 27 February 20261.
- Adoption and Entry into Force:
- Authority for Compliance:
4. Compliance Obligations for Importers/Exporters
For Fresh or Chilled Vegetables and Fruits (HS 070999, 070910, 070920, 070960)
- Pre-shipment Requirements:
- Obtain a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country’s NPPO, confirming:
- Absence of Ralstonia solanacearum (for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants)1.
- Absence of Pseudococcus comstocki (for grapes)1.
- Ensure compliance with ISPM Nos. 1, 4, 7, 10, and 20 (e.g., pest risk analysis, inspection protocols)1.
- Customs Clearance:
- Post-Entry Requirements:
- No additional domestic measures are specified in the notification, but importers must retain records for audit purposes1.
For Other Covered Products (e.g., Live Plants, Grapes)
- Similar requirements apply, with additional species-specific pest checks (e.g., for banana plants or fig seedlings)1.
5. International Alignment
- The regulation conforms to IPPC standards (ISPM Nos. 1, 4, 7, 10, and 20), ensuring consistency with global phytosanitary practices1.
- No deviations from international standards are reported1.
Summary Answer
Armenia’s proposed phytosanitary measures for fresh or chilled vegetables and fruits (HS codes 070999, 070910, 070920, 070960) introduce mandatory pest-specific requirements, including the absence of Ralstonia solanacearum (for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants) and Pseudococcus comstocki (for grapes). The regulation, drafted by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), aligns with IPPC standards (ISPM Nos. 1, 4, 7, 10, 20) and applies to all trading partners1. Importers must provide phytosanitary certificates and comply with border inspections. The comment period closes on 27 February 2026, with entry into force expected six months after publication1. Enforcement falls under the EEC’s Department for Sanitary, Phytosanitary, and Veterinary Measures, with Armenia implementing the rules at its customs border1.
Sources
- ↩ Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures – Notification – Armenia – Plants ; Fresh or chilled vegetables and fruits https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NARM62.pdf&Open=True