MOSCOW, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has imposed a temporary ban on supplies of canned fish produced by two factories in Latvia, due to high levels of a dangerous substance allegedly detected in their products, the Agriculture Ministry said Friday.
Restrictions imposed by Russian authorities on food imports, including United States poultry, Moldovan and Georgian wines, and Ukrainian meat, have been a source of tension in bilateral relations with these countries.
The ministry said "Due to the detection of benzopyrene, in quantities exceeding the set norm, in tinned fish produced at the Gamma-A LV 44Z and Brivais Vilnis LV 28 Z fish-processing enterprises in Latvia, imports of canned fish from these companies will be temporarily banned as of October 20, 2006 pending further instructions."
