UPDATE2: Russia not to ban imports of Turkish goods, to improve control

(Rewrites headline, lede, adds details in paragraphs 2, 3)

MOSCOW, Nov 26 (PRIME) -- Russia does not plan to impose an embargo on Turkish imports, but is taking additional control measures, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

“Of course, no embargo will be imposed. At the same time, we have to impose additional control measures due to an increase of danger of different extremist acts,” Peskov said.

He also said he is unaware of any discussions on anti-Turkish sanctions in the Kremlin.

The Agriculture Ministry said in a statement quoting Minister Alexander Tkachyov that the government has ordered the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight to toughen control over Turkish food imports and hold additional inspections at the country’s border and in Turkey.

“Taking into account repeated violations of Russian regulations by Turkish producers, the Russian Federation’s government has ordered the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight to impose tougher control on supplies of agricultural products and food from Turkey and hold additional inspections at the border and on production sites in the Republic of Turkey,” Tkachyov said as quoted by the ministry.

“The Agriculture Ministry has analyzed the situation and informed the Russian government that, unfortunately, about 15% of Turkish agricultural production does not comply with the Russian regulation.”

Fruit and vegetables contain excessive amounts of pesticides, nitrates and nitrites, he said.

An official representative for the Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Oversight told PRIME that the service is not satisfied with quality of production of the Turkish light industry.

“During the year (2015), non-compliance with regulatory requirements was found in products of the light industry, including children’s clothes, furniture, washing and cleaning products. In every case, measures are taken in accordance with legislation of the Russian Federation, and products are included in the group of a high risk,” the representative said.

On Tuesday, Russia’s Sukhoi Su-24 bomber was shot down by an air-to-air Turkish missile and crashed in Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was “a stab in the back” from “accomplices of terrorists” and promised serious consequences in relations between Moscow and Ankara.

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