Russia's agricultural watchdog has imposed a ban on the import of tomatoes and peppers from Antalya and Izmir provinces in Turkey, and apples from Azerbaijan due to the detection of harmful viruses and pests. The ban, effective from December 11, 2020, is in response to Turkey's failure to improve phytosanitary conditions, despite prior warnings. The concerns include the pepino mosaic virus, which can severely damage vegetable crops, and the tomato brown rugose virus, which is highly contagious and harmful to a wide range of plants. The decision comes as Russia seeks to protect its agricultural output from foreign pests and diseases.