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Russia bans import of European dairy products, cheese - source

The ban may affect imports from Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Scandinavian countries

MOSCOW, August 06 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia has banned the import of European dairy products and mass-produced cheese, a source familiar with the situation told ITAR-TASS on Wednesday.

“The list includes powdered milk, butter and cheese,” he said, adding, however, that the ban would not apply to medium-priced and premium varieties of cheese.

The ban may affect imports from Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Scandinavian countries. “These are mainly the countries that initiated sanctions against Russia,” the source said.

According to the Russian Federal Customs Service, the leading suppliers of whole milk and products from it to Russia in 2013 were Finland (17.800 tonnes, worth $19.6 million), Estonia (8,300 tonnes, worth $19.4 million), Poland (3,800 tonnes, worth $8 million), and Lithuania (3,000 tonnes, worth $7.3 million).

The Eurasian Economic Commission said about 70% of cheese and farmer cheese were supplied to Russia in 2013 by the Netherlands, Ukraine, Germany, Finland, and Lithuania.