The Dutch embassy in Moscow has learned from the media about steps towards a ban for cut flowers imported to Russia from the Netherlands, as made by Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), but said it has received no formal requests.

"We have taken notice of the media reports relating to this topic," Maajke van Koldam, the Counselor of the Dutch Embassy to Russia told Interfax, when asked to comment on possibility of ban on cut flowers import from the Netherlands to Russia.

The embassy had received no requests from Russian representatives with regard to this matter, she said.

"Once such a Russian request is received, it will be discussed at the EU level," van Koldam said.

Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor had proposed that national organizations that administer quarantine and plant protection in the EU countries suspend phytosanitary certification of cut flowers grown in the Netherlands for the purpose of their delivery to Russia.