Putin extends Russia's foodstuffs embargo for 2021
Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended throughout 2021 the country's foodstuffs embargo on the supply of products from countries that have introduced or supported sanctions against Russia. This follows from the presidential decree "On extending certain special economic measures in order to ensure the security of the Russian Federation", as posted on the Kremlin's website. The document comes into force as of the date of its signing.
Russia imposed the foodstuffs embargo via presidential decree dated August 6, 2014, against countries that had introduced or supported sanctions against Russia. The embargo initially applied to products from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Norway, and Canada. As of August 13, 2015, Albania, Montenegro, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, which had joined the sanctions against Russia, have been included in the list of these countries, as well as Ukraine since January 1, 2016.
The ban was initially introduced for one year. It was extended in 2015 until August 5, 2016, and then again in June 2016 until the end of 2017, since when it has been renewed annually. Meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, fish and fish products, and vegetables and fruit were initially banned. Since October 2017, live pigs, with the exception of purebred breeding animals, as well as animal by-products and fat and animal oil have been prohibited from importation.
Since August 6, 2015, in accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On certain special economic measures in order to ensure the security of the Russian Federation", as signed on July 29, 2015, products from sanctioned countries are subject to destruction.
Additionally, a procedure is being introduced by which the transit of products from sanctioned countries would be possible only when using Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) seals and registration coupons from drivers.
Source: INTERFAX