Russia destroys all contraband plant products, new products not arriving - watchdog
MOSCOW. Sept 18 (Interfax) - According to information as of September 17, 675 tonnes of contraband plant-based food products have been seized in Russia, and as of today the entire amount has been destroyed, The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) said in a statement.
Compared with information from September 16, the amount of contraband products entering Russia has not changed. The last 40 tonnes from seized shipments were destroyed within 24 hours, Rosselkhoznadzor said.
Additionally, 317 tonnes of food products made from animals has been seized, of which 61 tonnes has been destroyed and as of September 16 this figure has not changed.
The destruction of the products is in accordance with the Russian presidential decree "on separate special economic measures, taken with the aim of ensuring the safety of the Russian Federation" signed July 29. According to the document, as of August 6, agricultural products which are produced in countries which support the economic sanctions against Russia, and which are banned from entering Russia, are subject to seizure and destruction.
The federal bodies authorized to carry out this decision are the Federal Customs Service, Rosselkhoznadzor, and Rospotrebnadzor.
After sanctioned food started being destroyed, the deliveries decreased nine-fold, officials said.
The food embargo is in effect against food from the United States, European Union, Australia, Norway and Canada. As of August 3, countries which have joined the anti-Russian sanctions and which have been included on the list are Albania, Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and under certain conditions, Ukraine.