Belarus eases ban on food imports from the West

September 1, BPN. Minsk has lifted the ban on imports of cabbage, celery stalks, frozen apricots and peaches from “unfriendly countries,” says a directive by the Council of Ministers published on the National Legal Internet Portal on August 30.

On January 1, Belarus imposed a six-month embargo on imports in response to sanctions by Western countries. It applied initially to Albania, Canada, the EU, Iceland, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Switzerland, the UK and the United States. Liechtenstein and Serbia were added on January 27.

The embargo applies to fresh and frozen beef, pork and poultry, offal, sausages, milk and dairy products, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and confectionery.

On June 27, the government extended the food embargo until the end of 2022, at the same time lifting the ban on imports of apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines and plums.

The ban does not apply to goods used for the production of children’s, preschool and school meals, as well as food supplements, medicines, vitamins, and medical products.