MOSCOW, September 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's agricultural watchdog has approved the resumption of Indian sesame and peanut imports as of September 17, the regulator said in a press release on Thursday.

"Accepting the guarantees of safety and quality of Indian sesame and peanut imports by the Indian Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority, Rosselkhoznadzor has decided to allow the resumption of the imports as of September 17, 2007," the agency said.

The watchdog ruled that every batch of peanuts and sesame must have import quarantine permits, and sanitary, quality and safety certificates issued by the Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, an independent Indian non-profit research organization. All the certificates must meet corresponding Russian requirements.

On May 1 Russia banned Indian rice, sesame and peanut imports following a series of sub-standard deliveries from the country. On July 20, the regulator lifted the ban on Indian rice.