STOCKHOLM, August 07. /ITAR-TASS/. Swedish food producers hope that Russian import restrictions will not last long as they would not like to lose the Russian market, an official at the Swedish Food Federation (Livsmedelforetagen) told ITAR-TASS on Thursday.

“The ban will be a challenge for us. But we will meet it by finding other markets. We hope that the restrictions will not last long because we would not like to lose the Russian market,” Hakan Bjorklund said.

Exports to Russia account for 1% of annual Swedish food supplies to other countries (about 70 million euros). Since 2003 the export has increased by 27%, dominated mainly by pastries, egg powder and vegetable oil which have not been included in the list of banned goods.

“The import ban will affect other EU countries to a greater degree as Russia is their biggest buyer of fruit, vegetables and meat,” Bjorklund said.