Russia blocks Polish cheese in trade clampdown

photo: wikipedia

According to Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), the cheese was intercepted in Kaliningrad, Russia's Baltic territory between Poland and Lithuania.

Labels of companies that do not have permits to export to the Russian Federation were apparently discovered beneath those of firms that are licensed to do so.

The return of the consignment follows last week's declaration by Rosselkhoznadzor that it is stepping up inspections on Polish pork, after a similar incident.

Spanish pork marrow from companies without permits to export to Russia and members of its customs union was found concealed in a consignment from Poland at the Belarusian border.

The block prompted Russian newspaper Moskovskij Komsomolets to claim that a “trade war” was under way.

Concerning the cheese export, Malgorzata Ksiazyk, head of the press of office at Poland's ministry of agriculture, has said that the ministry is looking into the matter.

She said that the ministry had not received an official communication from the Russian side. (nh)

Source: PAP