As of June 30, 2025, no Dutch seeds or planting material from covered cultivation (e.g., greenhouses) may be imported into Russia. This was announced by the Kaliningrad regional directorate of Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia's plant health authority. The move strengthens an earlier measure and now also bans export via other countries.
Rosselkhoznadzor states that the measure was taken to protect the phytosanitary status of the Russian Federation and the EAEU member states (Eurasian Economic Union). The reason cited for the decision is repeated findings of quarantine organisms, including dodder (Cuscuta spp.) and Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande), in import shipments from the Netherlands.
For shipments sent before the effective date of June 30, 2025, import will still be allowed, provided they are accompanied by laboratory results demonstrating they are free from the listed organisms.
Response from the Netherlands
The Dutch industry association Plantum explains that the ban is a tightening of a previously introduced measure. Elsbeth Ketting from Plantum clarifies:
"The Russian ban on the import of seeds and seedlings from the Netherlands that was announced yesterday is in fact a tightening of the ban on the export of seeds and young plants to Russia from the Netherlands that has been in effect since November 2023."
The updated measure means that not only is direct export from the Netherlands banned, but now also the export of Dutch propagation material from other countries to Russia is no longer allowed. This effectively closes the route through third countries, regardless of where the materials are processed or packaged.
There are no concrete figures available on the affected export volumes, as there is no data on the exact export flows of individual companies. The impact will vary by sector.
"Ornamental horticulture was already on the EU sanctions list. For that sector, this won't make much of a difference. However, vegetable seed companies were still allowed to export to Russia from countries other than the Netherlands. Those companies will now feel the impact," Plantum expects.