MOSCOW, August 18 (RAPSI) - European dairy, meat and vegetable producers have approached Swiss authorities seeking alternative transportation routes to Russia amid the recently introduced sanctions, Izvestia daily reported Monday.

On August 7, Russia imposed embargo on food imports from the EU, US and other Western countries for one year in response to sanctions which had been introduced against Russia. The ban includes beef, pork, poultry, fruit, vegetables, cheese, dairy, nuts and other products.

The sanctions imposed by Russia do not affect Switzerland as it is not an EU member. As a result, various European food companies have approached Swiss authorities in an effort to continue exporting their products to Russia via Switzerland, Anne Rizzolli, Communications Director of the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), told Izvestia.

The European Milk Board (EMB) also confirmed that many national dairy manufacturing associations in Europe are looking for transportation opportunities. They have been considering Switzerland and South America in an effort to maintain exports to Russia, EMB Vice President Sieta van Keimpema told the newspaper.