Interfax: Embargoed food destruction backed by 42% of Russians, 38% against

Kremlin and River

MOSCOW. Aug 21 (Interfax) – Most Russians (83%) are aware of the destruction of embargoed food smuggled into Russia from the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada and Norway, the Public Opinion Foundation has said.

Russians have mixed feelings about the decision made by the authorities: 42% say the embargoed food needs to be destroyed, and 38% claim the opposite.

Those supporting the destruction of embargoed foods argue that such foods fail to meet sanitary norms, they are of inferior quality, out-of-date and harmful (17%), and that domestic production should be developed and domestic producers should be supported (8%).

Their opponents propose to distribute the food amongst the needy (18%), orphanages or old people’s homes (5%). The foundation polled 1,500 respondents in 104 populated localities in 53 regions on August 15-16.

On the whole, 70% of the respondents deem correct the decision of the Russian authorities to ban the imports of certain products from the European Union, the United States, Australia, Canada and Norway. Eleven percent call this decision erroneous, and 19% are undecided.

On August 6, 2015, Russia extended for one year the embargo imposed on food imported from the United States, the EU, Canada, Norway and Australia in August 2014. Meat and meat products, fish and seafood, milk and dairy products, fruit and vegetables from those countries were outlawed.

In late July, the president signed a decree ordering to seize and destroy agricultural products made in the countries, which had backed economic sanctions against Russia, and embargoed by Russia starting from August 6.

As of August 19, Rosselkhoznadzor reported the destruction of 552 tonnes of contraband fruit and vegetables and 48 tonnes of contraband animal products. Embargoed foods are seized not only on the border but also in shops.

 

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