Report: Eurasian Econ Commission to mull Russian milk ban on Tue

MINSK, Jun 13 (PRIME) -- The Eurasian Economic Commission plans to discuss a ban on imports of Belarusian milk by the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight on Tuesday, the commission’s Industry and Agriculture Minister Sergei Sidorsky said in an interview to Belarusian newswire tut.by released on Monday.

The service introduced the ban on July 6 in violation of the Eurasian Economic Union’s treaty, he said.

“Taking into account the necessity to solve the problems as soon as possible, the commission’s panel will discuss the issue of the Russian Federation’s violation of obligations of the internal market functioning on June 13. Agriculture ministers of Russia and Belarus were invited to the session, as well as the director of the service,” Sidorsky said.

Members of the Eurasian Economic Union are allowed to suspend imports of agricultural products only if the epizootic situation at territories of other states deteriorates rapidly. “The commission received no such information from the service. Thus, actions of the service restrict competition illegally,” Sidorsky said, adding that the commission sees the service’s measures as excessive.

The Eurasian Economic Union comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.

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