MOSCOW: Russia has turned back tons of German and U.s tea following a ban on western food imports by Moscow. However, a firm that was supposed to receive the cargo called it “shipment error” which would be sent back immediately.
After 970 kilograms of German herbal tea was detained in the Siberian region of Novosibirsk, officials said that they had seized a smaller shipment of tea and ice-drink mixes on the far eastern island of Sakhalin.
The incident followed the seizure of German herbal tea in Novosibirsk that contained slices of dried apples, pineapple, currants and rose hips.
Moscow, in August banned imports of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy from the EU, the U.S., Norway, Canada and Australia in response to Western sanctions against Russia over its policy on Ukraine.
“This product will not make it to store shelves,” the regional customs service said in the statement, adding “The Novosibirsk trading company that carried the cargo would “either have to take it back to Germany or destroy it on the territory of Russia.”
