The European Commission Council has clarified that contrary to earlier reports European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia do not block the export of, and transactions related to, food and agricultural products originating in Russia.
According to a statement on its website, “EU sanctions cover only bilateral trade between the EU and Russia – not international trade …. Anyone can operate, buy, transport, ensure food, and fertilizers coming out of Russia.”
Earlier reports implied EU sanctions against Russia had been extended to include a ban on the provision of transport, transshipment, and trading services by European companies, as well as related services, such as insurance, financial, and brokerage services, related to the transit of sanctions Russian fertilizers – potash and compound fertilizers – as well as coal, that were heading for third countries (GM Sept. 23, p. 1).
The ban applied to these Russian origin products heading for third countries through EU Member States and even without the use of the EU’s territory and infrastructure.
But according to the EC Council clarification statement, “The restrictions on the import of certain potash fertilizers under the EU sanctions only apply to products imported to the EU and do not concern exports of these products to Ukraine from the EU or from Russia,” the statement read.
The EC Council added the EU has also made exceptions within its sanctions, including that “EU Member States are also authorized to grant Russian-flagged vessels access to EU ports, as well as to grant Russian road carriers entry to the EU, for the purposes of importing or transporting agricultural products, including fertilizers and wheat, that are not subject to sanctions.”