Following the repeated detection of quarantine pests in imported goods, Uzbekistan [3] has temporarily banned imports of tangerines and pineapples from China.

Uzbekistan’s Agency for Plant Quarantine and Protection tested samples collected from shipments of tangerines and pineapples and identified quarantine pests, including citrus whitefly, oriental citrus scale and pineapple mealybug, in nearly 20 different consignments, raising concerns about potential risks to the country’s domestic agriculture sector.

According to Chinese customs statistics, China exported approximately 14,300 metric tons of fresh citrus to Uzbekistan in 2025, with a total value of 85.24 million Chinese yuan ($12.3 million), as well as 4,582 metric tons of fresh pineapples worth 29.87 million yuan ($4.3 million).

Uzbek authorities have formally notified the relevant Chinese departments and provided laboratory test results and supporting documentation. The ban will remain in effect until the identified phytosanitary risks have been completely eliminated.

Meanwhile, China and Uzbekistan continue to expand their agricultural cooperation, including plans to invest $10 million in the construction of an agricultural machinery plant in Uzbekistan aimed at supporting local farmers and reducing the country’s reliance on imports. Officials have noted that the temporary import ban will not affect broader bilateral agricultural projects between the two countries.

Image: Pexels

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article [4].