Russia bans or limits EU and Western food imports

Russia is imposing its own bans against the European Union in retaliation for sanctions over Moscow’s support for Ukraine’s rebels.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has announced that fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy products will be limited or blocked from several countries including the United States, Canada and Australia.

“There is nothing good in sanctions and it wasn’t an easy decision to take, but we had to do it,” Medvedev said.

The measure will come into force on August 7 and last for a year.

Russia’s Agriculture Ministry said it would compensate for the ban by importing products from other countries, including meat from Brazil and cheese from New Zealand.

Russia has already imposed a ban on transit flights for Ukrainian airlines via its territory.

Moscow is also considering banning transit flights by airlines from the European Union and the United States to the Asia-Pacific region.

Below is the list of banned food products:

– cattle meat, fresh, chilled or frozen;

– pork, fresh, chilled or frozen;

– poultry and its subproducts, fresh, chilled or frozen;

– all salted, dried or smoked meats;

– fish, shellfish, scallops and other aquatic invertebrates;

– milk and dairy products;

– vegetables;

– fruits;

– nuts;

– sausage and similar meat products;

– cheese and similar products.