Russia bans food imports from EU and US

Russia has imposed a ban on food imports from the EU, the US and other western countries, in response to the sanctions imposed on the country over its policy on Ukraine.

Russia Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was quoted by AFP as saying: "Russia is introducing a full embargo on imports of beef, pork, fruit and vegetable produce, poultry, fish, cheese, milk and dairy products from the European Union, United States, Australia, Canada and Norway."

"There is nothing good in sanctions… and the response did not come easily to us, but we had to take it," he added.

According to Medvedev, the ban comes into force immediately and will last for one year.

Baby food will not be included in the ban and people can still buy the banned products abroad if they want to, noted Medvedev.

In a move widely seen as a response to EU sanctions over Ukraine, earlier this month Russian authorities imposed a ban on imports of fruit and vegetables from Poland, citing sanitary issues as the cause of the embargo.

The EU and US sanctions imposed on Russia include restrictions on key sectors of the economy as well as individuals.

The first round of sanctions was imposed after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in March 2014.

In 2013, EU food exports to Russia were worth about £9bn, while US food exports to Russia were worth around £772m.

The major food exporters to Russia include Belarus, Brazil, Ukraine, Germany and Turkey, reports Reuters.