Russia tightens food embargo rules for Belarus and Kazakhstan

On November 24, Russia's federal agency for agricultural control, Rosselkhoznadzor, banned the transit of food products from Kazakhstan and Belarus without preliminary inspection by Russian specialists. 

"The transit of food products via the Russian Federation is allowed only for the products that have passed through checkpoints on the Russian border," the head of department, Sergei Dankvert said. 

The initiative was introduced in connection with frequent cases of the smuggling of sanctions food products across the Russian border, officials at the department said.

The decision does not stipulate for the complete ban of the transit of products from Belarus and Kazakhstan through Russia.