Russia Bans the Import of Polish Cheeses

25 Feb 2015 --- Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian agency for protecting customers’ rights, has published a statement announcing that no cheeses or “cheese-like” products from Poland will be imported into Russia. The ban has been in place since 20 February.

The decision is said to be implemented due to the concerns of just one cheese brand, Happy Cow, but Russia has taken the decision to ban all cheese.

According to the agency, the cheese “Wesola Krówka” has violated the rules of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan in regards to cheese production and safety.

Consequently, the agency decided then to ban all cheese imports from Poland until the matter is clarified.

It is not the first time that Russia has banned Polish cheeses. Even before the recent tensions between Brussels and Moscow began, in 2013 Russia, decided to halt the import of Polish cheeses. Moreover, a Russian ban on Polish apples made headlines last year when a social media campaign began to promote the domestic consumption of apples in Poland, in order to “spurn Putin’s plans”.

The newest embargo will affect only processed cheeses. Hard cheeses are banned independently under the Russian embargo on EU agricultural products, introduced as a response to the EU’s sanctions on Russia.