Russian AgMin sees no need to extend parallel imports to foodstuffs, exception possible for alcohol

MOSCOW. Oct 20 (Interfax) - The Russian Agriculture Ministry sees no need to include food products in the list of goods for parallel import, with an exception possible for alcohol, such as whiskey, said Deputy Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut at the plenary session of the Made in Russia forum.

"We believe that we can produce everything, that is, we have reached such a level of development that we can in principle produce everything, and we do not need parallel imports. If we do not have some brand, then we will have another, Russian, brand, and our Russian company will produce it," she said.

"The only thing we've discussed is that they'll probably be bringing whiskey into the country soon through parallel imports," Lut said, reiterating that "in terms of foodstuffs, we don't need anything."