Russia's food safety watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, has banned the import of Ukrainian "cheese-like products," according to a press release published Thursday on the regulator's website.
Among the banned products are sandwich spreads, certain hard cheeses, and hard margarine.
The reasons for the ban were cited as sanitary infractions and "numerous violations of consumer rights legislation."
Previously in July, citing improper quality control, Russia put a ban on Ukrainian cheeses and milk, in a move widely seen as politically motivated.
According to Thursday's press release, Ukrainian margarine "did not meet the regulatory requirements of trans-unsaturated fatty acids," while sandwich spreads "revealed the presence of animal fats" when the companies had claimed they were 100 percent vegetarian.
Relations between Russia and Ukraine have worsened dramatically since Russia's annexation of Crimea in March. Since July, Russia has banned a slew of Ukrainian products, including fruit, vegetables, juices and soybeans.
Cheese is the country's 10th-largest export to Russia, according to analysts from financial services group Nomura.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
