Dutch flowers imports can be banned

Flower imports from the Netherlands to the Russian Federaton, which account for almost 80% of the market, could be banned because they don't meet safety requirements.

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phitosanitary Inspection plans to impose the ban from January next year.

The ban follows plans by the Netherlands to allow non-state organisations to oversee the country's national control system for plants

Russia's chief inspectorate says plant certification do not meet Russian quality standards.

The ban is likely to severely affect the Russian flower market, which is worth $US1 billion.