Russia's consumer rights watchdog announced a ban Thursday on a certain type of canned fish from Poland, the latest in a series of such prohibitions seen as politically motivated.
Rospotrebnadzor, the watchdog, said in a statement that there were health concerns over a brand of Polish sprats and that inspections had revealed “violations in consumer rights legislation.”
Imports of the sprats in question will be halted from Friday, according to the statement.
The ban is the latest in a series of disagreements with Eastern European countries over food quality, which officials in those countries allege are politically driven.
Poland has been one of the loudest critics of Russian policy in Ukraine.
Earlier this year, Rospotrebnadzor announced a ban on certain types of Polish cheese, previously exempt from the wide-ranging 2014 ban on food imports from countries that slapped sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.
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.
