RUSSIA – The Russian government commission on protective measures imposed an extra 5% duty on butter and margarine imported into the country this week.

Russian government officials said that the levies had been introduced in an attempt to curb current high butter and margarine imports. For January to April, Russian butter imports were up 43.5% to 46,125 tonnes. The duties will be valid until the end of the year.

Trade minister German Gref said that the government would review the situation again in August, and may increase import duty further. The tax currently stands at 15% or a minimum of &#8364,0.22 per kilogram for butter and &#8364,0.12 per kilogram for margarine.

In June Russia also threatened to impose restrictions on dairy imports from the European Union in response to an increase in grain import tariffs in the EU. Russian agriculture minister Alexei Gordeyev said: “Europe has erected barriers that have practically stopped Russian exports and have made us uncompetitive.” He added: “We intend to take adequate steps in relation to meat and dairy imports.”