Brussels, 28/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - Russia has decided to suspend imports of fruit, vegetables and preserved fresh from Ukraine as of 29 July, due to labelling “infringements”, the Russian veterinary agency Rosselkhoznadzor announced on Monday 28 July.
On 26 July, the Russian authorities decided to limit imports of Ukrainian dairy products, alleging that these contain antibiotic and bacterial residues. This decision on sanitary grounds follows another similar one taken in early July, when Moscow banned plant products from Ukraine in hand luggage, luggage and parcels being sent to Russia, as well as imports of Ukrainian potatoes due to an invasion of insect pests.
Russia is accused of using commercial weaponry as a means of exercising diplomatic pressure over its neighbours from the former USSR, mainly invoking sanitary grounds. The Russian authorities, who have expressed concern at the rapprochement between the EU and Ukraine and the impact of their free-trade agreement on its economy, warned that the country would take protection measures (see EUROPE 11121). Russia has used the same procedure against Moldova, limiting its imports of meat, fruit and wine following the signature of a free-trade agreement between Moldova and the EU. (EH)