DUBLIN, August 07. /ITAR-TASS/. As Russia has introduced a ban on EU food import, Irish cheesemongers alone might lose up to 4.3 million euros a year, Irish Minister for agriculture, food and the marine Simon Coveney said on Thursday.

The losses were yet to be estimated but the situation was most worrisome for Irish cheese supplies that amounted to 4.5 million euros last year, he told the Irish TV. However, sanctions did not come as a surprise for the Irish government, Coveney added.

The prohibitive measures could adversely affect European agricultural producers, the Minister said.

Ireland exports to Russia a total of about 150 million euros of food annually ranking 13th among the EU countries.