EC Prepares to Help Dairy Exporters Cope with Russian Food Imports Ban

The European Commission on Friday said it is ready to support exporters of dairy products hit by Russia’s ban on food imports from the West.

According to a statement by the Commission,  it [...] “will not hesitate to take any further emergency market support measures if necessary, notably for certain dairy products where the impact of the Russian ban seems obvious."

The move adds up to emergency measures already taken for fruit and vegetables, Reuters noted in its coverage of the news.

The Commission said last week it would provide up to EUR 125 M in aid to EU farmers unable to sell their produce, especially fruit and vegetables, because of the Russian ban.

Russia imported more than EUR 1.3 B worth of dairy products from the EU last year.

Earlier this month Moscow banned imports of food from the US, the EU, Australia, Canada and Norway in  response to the sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.