Ukraine accused Russia on Monday of blocking Ukrainian cheese imports for political reasons in an escalation of a food quality dispute between the two former Soviet nations.
Russian consumer goods watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, barred imports of cheese made by three Ukrainian producers last week after accusing them of using excessive quantities of palm oil, a cheap substitute for milk. Ukrainian producers deny this and officials from both sides agreed last Thursday to resolve the issue by having Rosportebnadzor inspect their facilities together with the Ukrainian authorities.
After the agreement was announced, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said the conflict was a result of lobbying by Russian dairy producers, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko said it would hurt Russian consumers above all. Rospotrebnadzor head Gennady Onishchenko then called off the agreement on joint inspections, triggering another angry response from Kiev.
"Mr Onishchenko should evaluate cheese quality rather than political statements by the head of the Foregn Ministry," Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dikusarov said.
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