Russia expands embargo on European and Ukrainian products

Russia has expanded its embargo on European products. On October 22, Russia banned imports of meat by-products produced in the EU, officials with the Russian  Federal veterinary and phytosanitary watchdog Rosselhoznadzor said. The restrictions were enacted from October 21 and will last until the agency changes its position.

Russia expands embargo on European and Ukrainian products. 53809.jpeg

Reportedly, the new restrictive measures were associated with the discovery of banned and harmful substances in the products.

"In the production of a number of enterprises, pathogens and heavy metals have been detected repeatedly. We are particularly concerned about the discovery of chloramphenicol antibiotic, which is banned for use in the European Union," officials with the department said in a statement.

Previously, for the same reason, the agency imposed temporary restrictions on the imports of frozen beef cuttings from the territory of the EU.

In late August, Rosselhoznadzor toughened monitoring of meat products coming from two Ukrainian companies.

Meanwhile, from October 22, Russia has imposed a ban on the import and transit of all мупуефиду products from Ukraine.

"As long as Rosselhoznadzor has not received a response to its questions from the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine, and taking into account the full range of threats and risks associated with the current situation, Rosselkhoznadzor decided to introduce temporary restrictions on imports or transit of all types of regulated fruit and vegetable products," a statement from the department said, TASS reports.

Earlier, Russia's Rosselhoznadzor approached the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine with a request to provide information on the vegetables and fruits supplied to Russia that can actually be re-exported products from EU countries. Russian officials asked to provide the information not later than October 21, 2014.

On August 7, 2014 Russia imposed an embargo on the import of key food groups, including fruits and vegetables from the European Union in response to the sanctions that the West had imposed against Russia against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis. According to Russian officials, the supplies of fruit and vegetable  products from Ukraine contain quarantined objects, in particular, the apple moth and the Californian thrips.

Russian and Ukrainian officials discussed the problem today in a telephone conversation. The head of the Ukrainian service, Andrei Chelombitko, expressed willingness to answer the questions from Russia's Rosselkhoznadzor. Moreover, the Ukrainian official said that the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine had not received the above-mentioned questions either by regular or electronic mail. Aleksei Saurin, deputy head of Rosselkhoznadzor, responded that the Russian side would analyze the answers as soon as they arrive. For the time being, he added, Rosselkhoznadzor had no reason to abandon the introduction of protective measures against Ukrainian products.