"In general we are not considering lifting the embargo right now. There are instructions regarding particular types of products, or certain countries. These issues are being discussed, but we have not made final decision yet," Dvorkovich told reporters after a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and the members of the Cabinet.
The food embargo, banning the import of meat, fish, dairy, fruit and vegetables from the European Union, was introduced by Moscow in August 2014 in response to European economic sanctions imposed on Russia over its alleged involvement in hostilities in southeastern Ukraine.
Currently, Russia is considering easing food embargoes for Greece, Hungary and Cyprus, as these countries have expressed discontent with the restrictive measures implemented against Russia.
At the same time, the country is implementing an import-substitution program aiming to replace at least 90 percent of Russia’s food imports with domestic products in the next 2-3 years, according to Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev.
