Russia could lift ban on Czech hard liquor exports in October - official
MOSCOW. Oct 12 (Interfax) - Russian consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor could lift its ban on exports of Czech hard liquor produced after September 26 before the end of October.
Such a decision will be adopted if Rospotrebnadzor is provided with exhaustive information about the inquiry into bootleg alcohol poisoning cases in the Czech Republic, agency head and Russia's chief epidemiologist Gennady Onishchenko told Interfax on Friday.
"Let's not run ahead of the train. Possibly, we will lift it [the ban] before the end of October," he said.
"We are expecting an official written report on Monday. If we find the materials to be received from the Czech Agriculture Ministry satisfactory, there will be no point in keeping this ban any longer," he said.
Russia banned hard liquor exports from the Czech Republic on September 21 after alcohol poisoning cases were reported. Becherovka herbal bitters, as well as several types of Absinthe, are not being delivered to the Russian market today.
The Czech government earlier partially lifted its ban on the sale of spirits. Czech radio stations have reported that sales of spirits produced before January 1, 2012, is permitted at the moment.
The Czech Prosecutor General's Office reported that two suspected organizers of illegal counterfeit alcohol distribution were arrested. The suspects, according to prosecutors, were knowingly making a highly toxic mixture of methanol and ethanol to be added to alcoholic beverages intended for sale.