EU: Russia’s ban on Latvian, Estonian fish imports breaks WTO rules

BRUSSELS, Jul 29 (PRIME) -- The Russian recent prohibition to import fish products from Latvia and Estonia contradicts the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a spokesperson for the European Commission told PRIME late Tuesday.

“Russia introduced a ban on imports of Latvian and Estonian fish on June 4, 2015. The E.U. views this prohibition as unjustified because it does not meet WTO rules,” the spokesperson said.

The official also said that the E.U. has not received any Russian claims regarding the phytosanitary and sanitary safety of imports of flowers from the Netherlands.

Aide of the director of Russia’s veterinary authority Alexei Alekseyenko said earlier that Moscow wants an answer to its request on safety of flowers from the Netherlands and the authority wants to start consultations on the matter. The watchdog offered the E.U. to suspend flower certification before all issues are solved.

Alekseyenko said on Tuesday that Russia wants the E.U. to establish a system of flower safety checks.

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