Rosselkhoznadzor Bans Belarusian Milk

The restrictions on import will be in effect from June 6.

Since June 6, Russia introduces temporary restrictions on the supply of Belarusian dairy products. This is reported on the Russian department’s official website.

The decision was made "taking into account the need to take measures in connection with the continued delivery of unsafe dairy products from the Republic of Belarus to the Russian Federation."

Among the products that with the greatest number of violations – milk, cream, dry, concentrated, canned and condensed milk and cream, bulk, concentrated and dry whey, as well as whey and milk protein concentrate.

These products, supplied in consumer packs of more than 2.5 liters, fall under the ban.

"The ban will affect processors who work on Belarusian raw materials, or those who simply pack milk and other products," – RNS quotes official Rosselkhoznadzor representative Yulia Melano.

According to her, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus, head of the Department of Veterinary and Food Supervision Ivan Smilhinia has already been informed about the decision.

Also the Rosselkhoznadzor website informs that from June 6, the import to Russia of the products of the Hlubokaye milk canning plant and of the Biaroza branch of OJSC Zdravushka Milk will be banned. Allegedly, "prohibited and harmful substances" were found in these enterprises’ products.

Rosselkhoznadzor has repeatedly suspended, then allowed the importation of meat and dairy products and poultry from Belarusian enterprises to Russia. The claims related to violations of veterinary and sanitary requirements. According to unofficial information, Russia is repelling the so-called sanctions supplies by such methods. Minsk insists on absolutely legal sale of its products.

Last time, the relations on the dairy front took a turn for the worse in early 2018. Moscow announced its intention to restrict the import of certain types of dairy products from 26 February. However, at first, that sanction was deferred to a later date, and then Russia refused to introduce restrictions at all.

In mid-March, it was announced that Russia and Belarus had signed a work flow chart on the procedure for lifting restrictions on the supply of Belarusian livestock products to Russia in 2018.