Russia | Import Ban on Agricultural and Food Products

In response to the implementation of economic and financial sanctions against Russia by the US and the EU over the past month, which was shortly followed by restrictive measures from Switzerland and Lichtenstein to prevent these countries being used to circumvent the EU Sanctions, Russia has announced the imposition of sanctions.

On 6 August 2014, the Russian President signed a Decree imposing a full embargo on certain foods and agricultural products and raw materials which originate from any country which has imposed sanctions against Russia, or which has acceded to such sanctions. This import ban is effective from 7 August 2014 and will last for one year. It follows a series of import bans on certain products from Ukraine, Poland and Romania.

On 7 August 2014 the Russian government published the list of sanctioned products through the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission’s Decision No. 54 of 16 July 2012 on Approval of the Customs Union Common Foreign Trade Commodity Nomenclature and on the Customs Union Common Customs Tariff. The list includes beef, pork, poultry, fish (and shell fish, clams and other water invertebrates), fruit and vegetable produce, cheese, milk and dairy products. The Russian Prime Minister stated that, subject to certain limitations, individuals may purchase such goods abroad and bring them into Russia (but not for resale). The embargo applies to EU countries, the US, Canada, Australia and Norway. It should be noted that:

• in relation to the types of meat concerned, the embargo applies to fresh, chilled and refrigerated meat as well as salted, pickled, dried and smoked meat. It also applies to all edible poultry by-products;
   
• in relation to finished products of meat or fish, the embargo applies to sausage and other similar meat products, meat by-products, blood and other food products of animal origin or made with meat; and
   
• the embargo applies to various products containing milk and based on vegetable fats, as well as finished products including cheese and cottage cheese based on vegetable fats.

Notably, the embargo does not apply to:

• other types of meat such as lamb, goat, donkey or horse meat;
   
• wine and spirits;
   
• citrus peel, melon crust, eggs and natural honey, which are specifically excluded from the list; and
   
• food listed in the nomenclature which is intended for consumption by children.