Belarusian-Russian food confrontation has not passed acute phase

As of August 13^th, 2016, Rosselkhoznadzor temporarily restricted imports from JSC “Bellakt”, JSC “Rogachev Milk Canning Plant” and PUP “Kalinkovichi Dairy Plant” for “numerous violations” of Russian and EEU veterinary and phytosanitary requirements. Russia’s frequent complaints about the quality of Belarusian foodstuffs have objective and subjective reasons. On the one hand, low profitability of Belarusian exporters and agricultural production as a whole due to reduced state support and requirements to cut costs by one-fourth, have prompted dairy companies to “optimize” their mass production, including through using cheap raw materials, violating technology and recipes. On the other hand, the Russian authorities have toughened competition for Belarusian exporters on the Russian market, so as sanctions have encouraged Russia to support own agricultural production. Finally, Russia is using administrative means to restrict Belarusian exports in order to put pressure on Belarus in military-technical cooperation, foreign policy manoeuvres and to prompt her to comply with the food embargo.