Export, Foodstuff, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Russia

According to Rosselkhoznadzor, a 20-ton shipment of powdered milk was halted on the Latvia-Russia border today, which supposedly had an excessive presence of bacteria.

''Microbiological deficiencies'' were also ascertained by Rosselkhoznadzor today in a shipment of canned sprats from Latvia. The 15.5 ton shipment of sprats has been taken to a temporary storage facility in Pskov.

Furthermore, a 55.5 ton rail shipment of fish products from Latvia and Iceland was not allowed to enter Russia from Latvia today, and has been sent back.

Rosselkhoznadzor also halted a shipment of grain from Belgium on the Estonia-Russia border today.

This week, Russia has blocked the import of various agricultural products from Europe, including the ban of Polish fruits and vegetables, citing various reasons.

As reported, the European Union formally adopted broad economic sanctions against Russia on Thursday, aiming to make it pay a price over the Ukraine crisis in the hope Moscow will reverse course.

The new measures, finally agreed earlier this week after months of hesitation, target Russia's banking, defense and energy sectors in view of its "actions destabilizing the situation in eastern Ukraine," a statement said.