MOSCOW, RUSSIA — Vietnam has asked Russia to temporarily suspend issuing wheat export certificates, Reuters reported on Oct. 17.

Yulia Melano, spokesman for the Russian safety watchdog group Rosselkhoznadzor, told Reuters the group is currently working with representatives of Vietnam to resume Russian wheat supplies. Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter and Vietnam is a major buyer of its wheat.

A year ago, Vietnam significantly decreased its purchases of Russian wheat after finding imports containing thistle seed. Melano said Vietnam did not buy Russian wheat between November 2018 and June 2019. Vietnam imported 229,100 tonnes of wheat from Russia in July and August of this year.

“It’s normal practice for importing countries to carry out additional checks,” Melano told Reuters.

Melano said additional talks on the issue will be held Oct. 20-22, when representatives of the Russian organization plan to attend the unloading of a supply of Russian grain to Vietnam.