Within Russian politics, two remarkable proposals have been made. The industry organization for vegetable producers calls for 100% inspections of imported fruit and vegetables, because MRLs are reportedly too high. In addition, a bill has been proposed, calling for a warning label on products that contain GMO products. The label is to be similar to the warning on a pack of cigarettes. Israel says it won't join the sanctions against Russia. The country wants to keep negotiations open, and takes a neutral stand. The EU and US have temporarily lifted a number of sanctions against Belarus. Frozen assets are accessible again, and entry bans have been lifted. Ukraine will still be dependent on financial support from the West in the coming years, Russian media write.
Russian proposal for anti-GMO label
Two Russian lawyers have drafted a proposal to put a big warning sign on the label of products that contain GMO products and other artificial additions. The initiators want the label to look the same as the warning on packs of cigarettes. In Russia, there has been concern over the use of GMO for a while now. Late last year, the rules regarding the use of GMO were already tightened.
Full inspection fruit and vegetables
The National Vegetable Producers' Union, active in Russia since 2014, has asked the government for full inspections of fruit and vegetable import. The inspections are to take place at import and at retail. According to the industry organization, it's a matter of unfair competition, twenty percent of imported tomatoes, cucumbers and beans have MRLs that are too high, and these products contain chemical additives that artificially extend the products' shelf life and lowers costs. According to the official statistics, only one percent of the imported products exceeds the norm. Around ten percent of the import is currently inspected, the industry organization wants to increase this percentage.
EU and US temporarily ease sanctions Belarus
The end of October has also brought a temporary end to a number of European sanctions against Belarus. For the next four months, the sanctions against the Belarusian president and 170 other individuals are lifted. The sanctions consist of frozen assets and entry bans.
The decision follows the release of the last political prisoners in Belarus in August, and is to improve relations between Europe and Belarus. The US also eased the limiting measures, and allow transactions with nine big Belarusian companies in the next six months. In Russian media, the step is declared to be an attempt to steal away Russia's ally.
Israel not joining sanctions
Israel takes a neutral position regarding conflicts between the West and Russia, Zeev Elkin, minister of Israeli Immigration & Absorption and Jerusalem Affairs, said in a radio show. "Israel isn't planning on joining the sanctions against Russia," the minister said. The minister also points out that the country has its own relationship with Russia and, although the countries sometimes have differing opinions, the preference goes out to an open dialogue.
Ukraine still on financial support West in coming years
The coming years, Ukraine is still expected to rely on financial support from Europe and the United States, The Moscow Times writes. The country is trying to turn away from Russia and move towards the West, a step that resulted in the civil war in the east, but economically the country also still has a lot of problems. Electricity is unreliable, corruption widespread, and the younger generation is moving away from the countryside, where no jobs are available. For a long time, Russia was the country's most important trade partner, but since the political struggles, trade has shown ups and downs. The IMF already lent 17.5 billion dollars, the US pledged another 1 billion dollars, provided a number of reforms are carried out. Ukraine also needs to repay 3 billion dollars to Russia in the near future.
