Russia limits import of dairy products from Lithuania - Onishchenko
Later on, the authority began implying gradual limitations on import of product from Svalia (Pieno Zvaigzdes)
MOSCOW, October 5 (Itar-Tass) - Beginning from October 7, Russia will implement a complex of measures to limit supplies of all dairy products from Lithuania, Russia’s Chief Sanitary Doctor Gennady Onishchenko said on Saturday.
“From beginning of the coming week we shall start a complex of measures, which we have manifested earlier, to prevent access to the Russian market of products from Lithuania, which do not comply with the Russian legislation on protection of consumer rights and on safety,” he said.
Since mid September of the current year, Russia’s consumer rights watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, has been applying additional measures to control quality and safety of dairy products exported to Russia from Lithuania following positive tests both in safety and quality. Several samples did not comply with the technical requirements for dairy products of the Customs Union.
Later on, the authority began implying gradual limitations on import of product from Svalia (Pieno Zvaigzdes).
On September 26, Rospotrebnadzor issued a warning about growing cases of inadequate quality and unsafe dairy and also meet products from Lithuania.
In summer of 2009, Russia banned import of dairy products from certain companies in Lithuania, as the controlling authority found in major supplies of butter, sour cream, cottage cheese and milk traces of antibiotics and of the doxicycline supplement.
Russia is a key market for Lithuania’s diary industry. Almost 85 percent of export is to Russia, and Lithuania exports of 50 percent of the nation’s dairy product. In 2012, the country supplied to Russia 370,000 tonnes of dairy products worth 193 million dollars, which was about 27 percent of Lithuania’s milk products. Lithuania exports to Russia cheese - 39,400 tonnes worth 181 million dollars (in 2012), yogurts - 1,550 tonnes worth 3.87 million dollars, butter - 267 tonnes worth 1.3 million dollars.
Lithuania’s five major dairy companies are Peino Zvaigzdes (Svalia brand), Rokoshio Suris, Zemaitijos Pienas, Vilkyskiu Pienine and Marijampoles Pieno Konservai.