Russia has extended the ban on fresh produce imports from the EU, US and a number of other countries until the end of December 2018.
A government statement outlined that the ban on the import of certain categories of agricultural products, raw materials and food, which was due to expire on 1 January next year, would now run until 31 December 2018.
The executive order from president Vladimir Putin to extend 'certain special economic measures' would 'ensure the security of the Russian Federation', the government noted.
The ban, which was first introduced in 2014 as a reaction to sanctions imposed against the country for its role in the Ukrainian crisis, also applies to Canada, Australia, Norway, Ukraine, Albania, Montenegro, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
'These restrictions are designed to expand the special economic countermeasures against certain states based on the extent of their involvement in the sanctions regime against Russia,' the government added.
On 28 June, the European Union prolonged economic sanctions against Russia by six months, taking them through to 31 January 2018.
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