Russia consumer rights watchdog bolsters anti-Turkey restrictions

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian state consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has strengthened border controls and organized a continuous monitoring of retail outlets in accordance with a presidential decree on the implementation of restrictive measures against Turkey, which include a ban on import of a number of Turkish goods, Rospotrebnadzor said in a statement on Monday, January 11, Sputnik International reports.

"The sanitary-quarantine control at checkpoints across the Russian state border has been strengthened, [the watchdog] having organized and carried out continuous monitoring of facilities in relation to the wholesale and retail trade, including enterprise network trade, markets, weekend fairs," the statement reads.

According to Rospotrebnadzor, the authorities have checked over 1,000 retail facilities, distribution centers and child care centers between January 1 and 10. Violations of sanitary consumer protection legislation were revealed in more than 40 percent of the facilities.

The downing of Russia’s Su-24 frontline bomber over Syria by a Turkish jet on November 24 damaged relations between Moscow and Ankara. In the wake of the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on economic measures against Ankara.

The decree includes a ban on employment of Turkish citizens by Russian employers, a food import ban on certain products, as well as a ban on charter flights in both directions. The sanctions came into force on January 1.