The Russian government has scrapped some parts of its food import ban allowing onion and potato seeds to be exempt from the embargo, according to local press.

The Moscow Times reports that the ban on the seeds has been eased permitting imports that could boost Russia's own agricultural industry. 

The ban has also been lifted on other produce, according to the report, which says that imports of hatchlings of salmon and trout are now allowed as well as sugar maize and peas for planting.

The Russian newspaper article said the ban would exclude lactose-free milk and products, biologically active supplements, vitamin-mineral complexes, flavor additives, protein concentrates of animal and plant origin and their mixtures, food fibers and food additives.

In early August, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a degree which placed an extensive ban on agricultural imports from the EU, the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Norway, in retaliation to economic sanctions.

Included on the original list of banned items were vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, beef and pork.

On August 18 the European Union announced a list of produce items to receive emergency funding support with a budget of €125 million (US$167 million) forecast until the end of November.

The products concerned by the measures were tomatoes, carrots, white cabbage, peppers, cauliflowers, cucumbers, gherkins, mushrooms, apples, pears, red fruits, table grapes and kiwifruit.

Earlier this week Russian authorities intercepted gray channel food imports originating from Spain and Hungary that were being shipped to the ex-Soviet country via Belarus.

Click here to read our other articles covering Russia's ban on agricultural imports

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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