Within weeks of the Russian Government's decision to extend an import ban on countries that sanctioned it in relation to the Ukrainian crisis, the country's consumer watchdog has revealed just how much food has been destroyed so far.

The import ban's framework in August, 2014 was originally centered around sending back illegal food imports (including fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood and meat), but a growing black market trade through countries like Belarus, Kazakhstan and others prompted the government to take more drastic action.

That meant a new decree to destroy foodstuffs banned under the decree to send a message to the illegal traders.

The initial decree included the U.S., EU member countries, Canada, Australia and Norway, but now also includes Ukraine, Albania, Montenegro, Iceland and Liechtenstein and is expected to last until at least December, 2018.

According to a report yesterday by Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), as of July 24 this year 16,277 metric tons (MT) of smuggled plant food products had been intercepted, of which 16,131MT were destroyed.

In addition, 491MT of food products of animal origin were intercepted of which 474MT were destroyed.

Between Jan. 1 and July 24 this year, Rosselkhoznadzor has destroyed 7,505MT of illegal plant products imported into Russia.

Photo: Rosselkhoznadzor

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