Russia reveals scope of import ban

Following a decision by the country's president, Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a government regulation defining the scope of the embargo on food products from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia, news agency Interfax reports. “Russia is introducing a full ban on imports of beef, pork, agricultural produce, i.e. vegetables and fruit, poultry, fish, cheese, milk and dairy products,” Medvedev said on Thursday morning. The embargo applies to food from EU countries, the USA, Australia, Canada and Norway. It does not apply to children’s food. Russia may reconsider the restrictions, the prime minister said, if the situation with respect to sanctions changes. Medvedev’s statement follows the signing of a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, which introduced possible import bans. Russia has already imposed on embargo on a number of Polish fruit and vegetable varieties as of August 1. The restrictions are a response to sanctions imposed on Russia by Western countries in reaction to its military involvement in Ukraine.