UPDATE: Russia not to allow re-exports of banned food via San Marino

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MOSCOW, Mar 18 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight will not allow re-exports of products, whose imports to the country is prohibited, by means of veterinary and phytosanitary certificates of San Marino, Alexei Alekseyenko, aide to the service’s director, told PRIME on Friday.

“We are taking into account this probability (of re-exports), such development of events. We will certainly accept only those products that were produced on the territory of the republic. We will not allow re-exports,” he said.

Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper reported earlier on Friday that Russia may resume imports of cheese and premium meat products from the E.U. with the supplies being made from small republic San Marino, and a relevant agreement could be signed later in the day.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia limited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

The food ban list includes beef, pork, poultry, seafood, vegetables, fruits, cheese, and dairy products.

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