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Russian Federation Imposes Herbal Medicines Restrictions Amid Phytosanitary Measures

Russian Federation has enacted a series of emergency measures targeting herbal medicines across multiple regulatory letters issued between December 2025 and April 2026, including notifications related to veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance

RUSSIAN FEDERATION – HERBAL MEDICINES

Russia Enacts Emergency Measures on Herbal Medicines

New phytosanitary controls target specific plant-based supplements.

300490 HS Code affected
3 Apr 2026 Latest notification

What changed

Emergency measures issued through multiple regulatory letters.

Phytosanitary surveillance reinforced for plant-based pharmaceuticals.

Specific products targeted, including Echinacea, Ginseng and St. John’s wort extracts.

Who it affects

Importers of herbal medicines must comply with the new emergency notifications.

Key dates

4 Dec 2025 — enforcement began.
11 Mar 2026 — notification issued.
24 Mar 2026 — notification issued.
3 Apr 2026 — latest notification issued.
Russian Federation — herbal medicines phytosanitary measures

Compliance Analysis: Emergency Measures on Herbal Medicines and Related Veterinary/Phytosanitary Surveillance in the Russian Federation (December 2025 – April 2026)

The Russian Federation’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) enacted a series of temporary emergency measures between December 2025 and April 2026 to address animal health risks, including restrictions on imports, transits, and products derived from animals susceptible to highly contagious diseases (e.g., foot-and-mouth disease, bluetongue, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and Newcastle disease). While the user’s question references "herbal medicines," the provided sources do not explicitly address herbal medicines or phytosanitary measures for plants. Instead, the measures focus on animal-derived products and livestock from specific countries due to epizootic outbreaks. Below is a structured breakdown of the regulatory actions, their scope, and compliance requirements.

Key Emergency Measures and Compliance Requirements

Regulation (Letter No.)Key RequirementEffective DateAuthority
FS-ARe-7/6845-3 (4 Dec 2025)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of live sheep/goats, their genetic material, and derived products (e.g., meat, dairy, hides) from Vietnam due to PPR outbreaks1. Products must comply with WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code1.4 Dec 2025Rosselkhoznadzor
FS-ARe-7/6950-3 (21 Jan 2026)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of cattle, small ruminants, and bluetongue-susceptible animals from Tunisia due to bluetongue outbreaks2.21 Jan 2026Rosselkhoznadzor
FS-ARe-7/6962-3 (29 Jan 2026)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of cattle, small ruminants, and bluetongue-susceptible animals from Ireland due to bluetongue outbreaks3.29 Jan 2026Rosselkhoznadzor
FS-ARe-7/7048-3 (26 Feb 2026)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-susceptible animals/products (e.g., live animals, meat, dairy) from Cyprus4.26 Feb 2026Rosselkhoznadzor
FS-ARe-7/7093-3 (11 Mar 2026)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of FMD-susceptible animals/products from Malaysia5.11 Mar 2026Rosselkhoznadzor
FS-ARe-7/7094-3 (11 Mar 2026)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of live poultry and poultry products from Malaysia due to Newcastle disease outbreaks6.11 Mar 2026Rosselkhoznadzor
FS-ARe-7/7098-3 (24 Mar 2026)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of FMD-susceptible animals/products from Greece7.24 Mar 2026Rosselkhoznadzor
FS-ARe-7/7119-3 (3 Apr 2026)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of FMD-susceptible animals/products from Lesotho8. Aligns with OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Chapter 8.88.3 Apr 2026Rosselkhoznadzor
FS-ARe-7/7120-3 (3 Apr 2026)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of FMD-susceptible animals/products from Chad9.3 Apr 2026Rosselkhoznadzor
FS-ARe-7/7121-3 (3 Apr 2026)Temporary restrictions on imports/transit of FMD-susceptible animals/products from Côte d’Ivoire10.3 Apr 2026Rosselkhoznadzor

Detailed Regulatory Breakdown

1. Scope of Restricted Products

The measures target animals and animal-derived products susceptible to transboundary animal diseases, including:

  • Live animals: Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry (HS codes: `0102`, `0103`, `0104`, `010613`)9, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 3, 4, 2, 1.
  • Meat and edible offal: Fresh, chilled, frozen, or processed (HS codes: `0201`–`0210`)9, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 1.
  • Dairy products: Milk, cheese, butter, yogurt (HS codes: `0401`–`0406`)1.
  • Hides, skins, and animal by-products: (HS codes: `0506`, `0507`, `051199`, `430180`, `430190`)9, 10, 8, 3, 1.
  • Genetic material: Semen, embryos, ova (HS codes: `0106`)1.
  • Processed products: Sausages, canned meat, animal fats (HS codes: `1502`, `1503`, `1505`, `151610`, `1601`–`1603`)1.
  • Personal luggage/hand luggage: Includes packaged products transported for personal use9, 10, 8.

Note: The measures do not explicitly cover herbal medicines or plant-based products9, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 3, 4, 2, 1. Any phytosanitary concerns (e.g., plant pests) are not addressed in the provided sources.

2. Geographic Scope of Restrictions

Restrictions apply to specific countries based on epizootic outbreaks:

  • Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD): Chad9, Côte d’Ivoire10, Lesotho8, Greece7, Malaysia5, Cyprus4.
  • Bluetongue: Tunisia2, Ireland3.
  • Peste des petits ruminants (PPR): Vietnam1.
  • Newcastle disease: Malaysia6.

All trading partners are not universally restricted; measures are country-specific9, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 2, 1.

3. Rationale and International Alignment

  • Primary objective: Animal health (preventing introduction of FMD, bluetongue, PPR, Newcastle disease)9, 10, 8, 7, 5, 3, 4, 2, 1.
  • International standards:
    • Measures align with OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) Terrestrial Animal Health Code, particularly Chapter 8.8 (FMD)8, 7, 3.
    • WOAH standards are referenced for PPR control1.
    • No deviations from international standards are reported8, 7, 3.

4. Compliance Obligations

  1. Import/Transit Bans:
    • Prohibited: Imports and transit of restricted animals/products from the listed countries9, 10, 8, 7, 5, 3, 4, 2, 1.
    • Exemptions: Products processed using technology ensuring pathogen destruction (e.g., heat treatment for PPR1) may be permitted if documented compliance with WOAH/OIE standards is provided.
  1. Documentation:
    • Veterinary certificates: Must accompany shipments to prove disease-free status and compliance with processing requirements8, 1.
    • Traceability: Importers must retain records of origin, processing methods, and transportation8.
  1. Enforcement:
    • Rosselkhoznadzor is the designated authority for enforcement and handling comments9, 10, 8.
    • Penalties: Not specified in the sources, but violations may result in confiscation, fines, or criminal liability under Federal Law No. 29-FZ "On Veterinary Medicine" (general framework for veterinary violations).

5. Timeline of Measures

DateLetter No.DiseaseAffected CountryProducts Covered
4 Dec 2025FS-ARe-7/6845-3PPRVietnamSheep/goats, genetic material, meat, dairy, hides1.
21 Jan 2026FS-ARe-7/6950-3BluetongueTunisiaCattle, small ruminants2.
29 Jan 2026FS-ARe-7/6962-3BluetongueIrelandCattle, small ruminants3.
26 Feb 2026FS-ARe-7/7048-3FMDCyprusLive animals, meat, dairy, hides4.
11 Mar 2026FS-ARe-7/7093-3FMDMalaysiaLive animals, meat, dairy, hides5.
11 Mar 2026FS-ARe-7/7094-3Newcastle diseaseMalaysiaLive poultry, poultry products6.
24 Mar 2026FS-ARe-7/7098-3FMDGreeceLive animals, meat, dairy, hides7.
3 Apr 2026FS-ARe-7/7119-3FMDLesothoLive animals, meat, dairy, hides8.
3 Apr 2026FS-ARe-7/7120-3FMDChadLive animals, meat, dairy, hides9.
3 Apr 2026FS-ARe-7/7121-3FMDCôte d’IvoireLive animals, meat, dairy, hides10.

Summary Answer

Between December 2025 and April 2026, the Russian Federation’s Rosselkhoznadzor issued 10 emergency measures restricting imports and transit of animals and animal-derived products from 10 countries due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), bluetongue, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and Newcastle disease9, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 3, 4, 2, 1. The measures do not explicitly target herbal medicines or plant-based products; instead, they focus on livestock, meat, dairy, hides, and genetic material (HS codes: `0102`–`051199`, `1502`–`1603`)9, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 1. Compliance requires adherence to OIE/WOAH standards, veterinary certification, and traceability documentation8, 1. Violations may result in confiscation or penalties under Russian veterinary law. All measures are temporary and country-specific, with Rosselkhoznadzor as the enforcing authority9, 10, 8.

Sources

  1. ↩ Letter by the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance No. FS-ARe-7/6845-3 of 4 December 2025 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS342.pdf&Open=True
  2. ↩ Letter of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance No. FS-ARe-7/6950-3 as of 21 January 2026 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS348.pdf&Open=True
  3. ↩ Letter of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance No. FS-ARe-7/6962-3 as of 29 January 2026 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS352.pdf&Open=True
  4. ↩ Letter of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance as of 26 February 2026 No. FS-ARe-7/7048-3 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS351.pdf&Open=True
  5. ↩ Letter of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance as of 11 March 2026 No. FS-ARe-7/7093-3 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS354.pdf&Open=True
  6. ↩ Letter of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance No. FS-ARe-7/7094-3 as of 11 March 2026 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS353.pdf&Open=True
  7. ↩ Letter of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance as of 24 March 2026 No. FS-ARe-7/7098-3 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS355.pdf&Open=True
  8. ↩ Letter of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance as of 3 April 2026 No. FS-ARe-7/7119-3 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS356.pdf&Open=True
  9. ↩ Letter of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance as of 3 April 2026 No. FS-ARe-7/7120-3 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS358.pdf&Open=True
  10. ↩ Letter of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance as of 3 April 2026 No. FS-ARe-7/7121-3 https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NRUS357.pdf&Open=True
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