A Lithuanian MEP has accused Russia’s ban on imports of the Baltic state’s dairy products of being politically motivated.
Leonidas Donskis noted diplomatic friction between Russia and Lithuania, particularly with the latter holding the rotating presidency of the EU. “There is no doubt that what is happening now is a revenge campaign,” he said.
Later this month, Lithuania willl host the latest Eastern Partnership summit in its capital, Vilnius. The summit, held every two years, looks to foster relations between the EU and countries to the east of the bloc – some of which are former Soviert states.
On Monday, Russian consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor claimed Lithuanian cheese, cottage, milk products and milk powder were contaminated with antibiotic tetracycline and yeast. The Russian government responded with a ban on imports of all Lithuanian dairy products.
Speaking to just-food, the two largest Lithuanian dairy exporters to Russia, Pieno Žvaigždes and Rokiškio Suris, said they had not received official notification of the ban.
However, they have suspended exports to Russia for the time being. Pieno Žvaigždes representative Virginija Zygiene said the company could not predict how long the ban would last and whether it was politically motivated.
Nevertheless, another dairy company, Žemaitijos Pienas reported its trucks had successfully crossed the border into Russia on Tuesday.
