Russia extends produce ban through 2017
Russia's Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev has told reporters that Russia does not plan to ex…Russia's Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev has told reporters that Russia does not plan to expand the list of banned products. However, the Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev has ordered ministers to draft proposals to extend the food import ban to the end of 2017.
The Agriculture Ministry has already started preparing the draft of the proposal, Tkachev said.
“This is great news for the domestic agriculture producers. This (the extension) allows them to plan investments in the industry, to increase the quality and competitiveness of Russian food,” the minister added.
Moscow in 2014 imposed a ban on imports of all meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables from the U.S., the 28 European Union countries, Canada, Australia and Norway, in retaliation against sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.