Russia may lift ban on import of agricultural products from Greece, Hungary, and Cyprus

Russia considers lifting the ban on import of agricultural products from Greece, Cyprus, and Hungary, Alexey Pushkov, the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the State Duma, said on April 8.

“Russia considers rescinding food sanctions against Greece, Cyprus, and Hungary,” Pushkov said calling it a serious subject for negotiations. He said Greece has been seriously hit by the sanctions. “Due to the Greek government’s stand, I think Russia may now consider rescinding these food sanctions against these countries, and Greece, first of all,” Pushkov said.

On March 3, Greece applied to the Russian food watchdog “Rosselkhoznadzor” requesting the restrictions on import on agricultural products such as strawberries, kiwis, peaches, fish and seafood are lifted. In this light, Minister of Economic Development of Russia Alexey Ulyukaev said Russia will search ways to rescind the food sanctions against Greece and Hungary in line with the WTO rules. Later, on April 6, “Rosselkhoznadzor” launched quality control tests on livestock in Greece, Cyprus, and Hungary in order to speed up renewal of imports, if the ban is lifted.

As EAD reported earlier, Russia’s agricultural food ban expires on August 8 2015. In 2014, Russia banned import of food, including fruits, berries, fish and seafood from the EU, Canada, U.S., Norway, and Australia.