Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has welcomed the setting up of a task force to monitor the impact of Russian sanctions on the European Union’s agricultural industry and warned the European Commission to ensure it acts quickly to support sectors if they are affected by Moscow’s ban on food imports.  

Commenting Mr Nicholson said:  “While the Russian embargo on food imports from the EU, US and other countries may have a limited direct impact on Northern Ireland businesses the global nature of trade means that there could be an indirect, knock-on effect as produce from across the EU which was originally destined for Russia must now find alternative markets.

“I welcome that the EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş has set up a task force which has started to monitor the situation and that he has also indicated a willingness to provide support to the agricultural industry if it is needed.  The Commissioner must however ensure that if problems are detected he acts quickly, we must not have a re-run of the crisis in the EU dairy sector in 2009 when the European Commission sat on its hands as prices slumped.”

A meeting of agricultural experts from across the EU is scheduled to take place today (Thursday) to discuss the sanctions further.

Mr Nicholson concluded:  “In addition to hurting EU producers, especially those in eastern member states, the import ban will also have implications for Russian consumers given their nation’s reliance on the importation of certain products.  Moscow’s sanctions intensify the standoff between Russia and the west and mean that the geopolitics regarding Ukraine is now beginning to have a wider impact, affecting businesses and households. 

“It is vital that the European Commission monitors the impact of these sanction closely and that the local agri-food industry is assisted if and when required.”