Officials in Russia have announced plans to postpone a forthcoming ban on potato imports from the EU, though they have suggested that when the ban comes into force it may include restrictions on food potatoes as well as seed potatoes.

Although the import restrictions were due to start on 1st April, Sergei Dankvert, head of Russian food safety agency Rosselkhoznadzor, said earlier this month that bans are not now likely until 1st June.  

The Rosselkhoznadzor chief said the ban will be discussed with EU Commission officials in talks this week. The Russian agency has threatened to introduce a ban if it does not receive documentation from EU regulators confirming that potatoes meet import requirements. Dankvert said that potatoes can serve as a "vector for quarantined items and illnesses".

He justified Rosselkhoznadzor's suggestion that it may extend the ban to include food potatoes by stating these carry the same risk as seed potatoes. The agency claims to have logged 400 detections of hazardous substances or items subject to quarantine in monitoring activities on imports in 2012 alone.

Rosselkhoznadzor said its officials expressed concern over the phytosanitary safety of imported potatoes during talks in Berlin on 16th January, during the Green Week fair, but that EU counterparts have yet to respond.

The ban would affect producers in the Netherlands most acutely, as they supply the lion's share of seed potatoes. In Russia, the press has voiced concerns that bans could lead to price rises for potatoes, a staple food for many Russians.