ANKARA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish authorities on Monday blasted Russia's restrictions on tomato imports from Turkey, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Last October, Russia decided to lift its ban on importing Turkish tomatoes from Nov. 1.

However, Moscow set a quota by allowing yearly exports of 50,000 tons of Turkish tomatoes from four Turkish producers as part of a rapprochement deal, according to a statement by Russian Agricultural Ministry.

"Turkey cannot accept Moscow's selection, accreditation or certification of Turkish companies for exporting tomatoes to Russia," Anadolu quoted Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci as saying.

"If needed, we will do the same," he warned.

Russia banned Turkish tomato imports after Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the Syrian border in November 2015.

In summer of 2017, Russia gradually eased trade sanctions on Turkey as part of normalization of bilateral relations.

However, the bilateral ties have not returned to pre-crisis levels with agricultural products bans as well as visa issues.