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European Commission does not know total EU losses from Russia’s food ban

The situation will be discussed in particular at the extraordinary meeting of EU agricultural ministers on September 7

BRUSSELS, August 18. /TASS/. The European Commission (EC) has no information about total losses of the European Union from the Russian food ban, EC press service told TASS on Tuesday.

"We have no statistical data yet but the Commission is monitoring the situation closely," the press service said.

Russia’s market closure for the European dairy products "plays an important role" on the European Union’s agricultural market, official spokesperson of the European Commission Enrico Brivio said earlier on Tuesday. The situation will be discussed in particular at the extraordinary meeting of EU agricultural ministers on September 7.

 "This would be an occasion to address the issue on the dairy and pork markets," he added. "Despite the short term volatility, the Commission believes that the long term perspective for this market is positive," Brivio said.

"Price volatility, lack of supply were exacerbated by the Russian ban but the Russian ban is not the only issue," Brivio said. "The Commission is reviewing situation also concerning the food supply chain and evaluating different support measures," he added.

Luxembourg currently presiding in the European Union "is holding informal consultations with EU member states" concerning problems on agricultural markets of European nations, Brivio said.