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Russia lifts ban on Lithuanian diary products

Moscow - Russia has lifted a ban it set in October on Lithuanian dairy products, the head of Russia's consumer protection agency, Anna Popova, said on Thursday.

Russia cited consumer protection concerns when it imposed the ban although officials in Lithuania suggested that the move was made in retaliation for the Baltic country's role in forging trade agreements between the European Union and former Soviet republics.

The issues that led to the ban had been resolved, the agency said. A spokesperson told the Interfax news agency that the products will be gradually allowed to appear on the Russia market beginning in January.

Dairy sales are vital to Lithuania, whose economy relies on their export revenues.

Russia said in October that it had detected dibutyl phthalate, a plasticizer, in Lithuanian rice pudding. It also said that a range of other Lithuanian products did not list the correct ingredients on their labels.

The EU criticized the Russian move at the time of the ban, expressing trust in the dairy producers of its member state Lithuania and saying that the bloc had "the strictest system in the world in the area of food safety."

The ban was imposed as Lithuania prepared to host an EU summit in November, at which Georgia and Moldova finalized agreements foreseeing stronger political and trade ties with the bloc.

Ukraine was supposed to become the first eastern neighbour to sign an association and free trade deal with the EU, but Kiev suspended work on the agreement in a move widely chalked up to pressure from Russia.

Russia strongly opposes the agreements, saying it would be better for the countries to join its Customs Union. Moscow had also this year slapped extra customs controls on goods from Ukraine and Lithuania and banned wine from Moldova, claiming quality problems.


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