Russia bans all cheese imports from Ukraine

The Russian consumer rights protection service banned imports of any cheese products from Ukraine, the entity reported in its Oct. 13 press release. It based its decision on four items of analyzed cheese products that did not correspond to Russian standards or labeling rules. On July 4, the service banned cheese supplies from the Ukrainian plants of Milkiland (MLK PW), one of the biggest exporters of cheese to Russia.

Alexander Paraschiy: This ruling brings no new economic consequences, given that different Russian services already have banned the supplies of most dairy products from Ukraine earlier this year. The latest available statistics revealed that cheese exports from Ukraine to Russia amounted to USD 0.6 mln in July 2014, which is a 98% plunge compared to July 2013 (when exports were USD 28.1 mln) and 97% plunge compared to January 2014 (USD 22.7 mln). This decision, thus, is merely a political statement confirming economic facts.