June 10, 2009
Russia bans another 800 Belarusian dairy products
Russia's consumer rights regulator Rospotrebnadzor has banned imports of 800 dairy products from Belarus, according to the watchdog's head.
Russia first banned nearly 500 Belarusian milk imports on Saturday (Jun 6) saying dairy producers in Belarus had failed to comply with new legislation.
Watchdog head Gennady Onishchenko said an additional probe revealed that the implementation of technical regulations for dairy products and the re-registration of documentation in the Smolensk and Bryansk regions were conducted with violations of such procedures.
Belarusian officials view the problem as 'far-fetched' so it is unlikely that there will be talks over the issue, said Onishchenko.
He had warned in late April that Belarus did not comply with Russian regulations, regarding dairy products introduced in December 2008, which could lead to import restrictions.
