MOSCOW, October 23 (RAPSI) – Ukraine has lodged a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Russia's import ban on Ukrainian agriculture products, RIA Novosti reported on Thursday.
Agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said earlier this week that Russia would temporarily ban agriculture imports from Ukraine.
A temporary ban on fruit and vegetable imports from Ukraine would be imposed because of a lack of labeling, the statement released by Russia's watchdog read. Rosselkhoznadzor alleged that the goods were not of Ukrainian origin.
Ukraine failed to provide Russia with detailed information about the country's agriculture and harvest.
Certain goods arriving from Ukraine could have been produced in the European Union, according to Rosselkhoznadzor. The watchdog also claimed poor quality of Ukrainian products to be the reason of their ban.
Over the past few months, the agency imposed a ban on individuals bringing fruit and vegetables in hand luggage or packages from Ukraine, as well as the import of diary products, soybeans, sunflower seeds and corn flour.
Moreover, Russian authorities announced in September a suspension on imports of Ukrainian confectionery.
Russian Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fedorov said in August that the country was prepared to argue its case of limiting food imports from a number of western countries and stand its ground in the WTO.