MOSCOW, September 5 (RAPSI) – Russia’s food safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has announced a suspension on imports of Ukrainian confectionery starting Friday.

Over the past few months, Rospotrebnadzor has banned the import of Ukrainian fruit, vegetables, canned fish and juice. The food safety agency, Rosselkhoznadzor, 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. The two services are dissatisfied with the Ukrainian products’ quality.

The import of Ukrainian pigs and potatoes has also been suspended.

“The Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing thereby announces that the examination of confectionery made by Ukrainian producers Konti and AVK has revealed violations of the consumer rights legislation related to product marking. Seeking to protect consumers’ rights, Rospotrebnadzor has decided to suspend the import of Ukrainian-made confectionery starting September 5, 2014,” the service said in a statement.

In late July 2014, the EU followed the US in introducing sanctions against certain Russian industrial sectors over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In response, in August Russia suspended food imports from the EU, the United States and other Western countries for one year. The ban includes beef, pork, poultry, fruit, vegetables, cheese, dairy, nuts and other products.

Later some food products, including lactose-free milk and dairy products, young salmon and trout, some vegetables and nutritional supplements, were removed from the blacklist.