Embargoed Food Should Be Destroyed - Russian Agriculture Minister

The decision to destroy food products illegally imported to Russia is based on global experience, and it would be unwise to distribute food of questionable quality, Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree on the destruction of any embargoed food found in the country came into force.

Products imported into the Russian Federation in violation of the embargo can be destroyed in any manner approved by law and in compliance with environmental regulations.

"There is an international practice that if you broke the law, if there are smuggled goods, they should be destroyed," Tkachev said, stressing that the products currently being destroyed are of "questionable quality."

In June, Russia extended for a year a ban on importing meat, fish, dairy products, vegetables and some other product categories from countries that imposed sanctions against Moscow.

"We cannot afford to let these products be sold in our stores, risking the health of our citizens," he added.

According to the minister, Moscow is considering expanding the list of embargoed goods from countries that have introduced sanctions against Russia. "If we can replace certain kinds of products, if we can quickly, through our own production, place them on Russian shelves, then it is justified."