Russia Bans Armenian Dairy Imports Over Alleged Health Violations

July 24, 2026 Christina Voinova / pexels Russia’s agricultural safety agency announced Friday that it will suspend imports of dairy products from Armenia, citing health violations and supply chain tracing failures. Rosselkhoznadzor’s decision follows a raft of Russian restrictions on the import and transit of Armenian food products this summer, which observers widely view as an economic pressure campaign targeting Yerevan as it pursues closer ties with the European Union “During the latest review, milk provided by infected livestock was discovered to be used in the production of dairy goods exported to Russia,” Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement following a weeklong inspection that concluded Tuesday. In a directive issued to its regional branches, the agency said that the dairy ban will take effect Monday, July 27, and named five Armenian companies whose products will be temporarily barred from entering Russia. Rosselkhoznadzor added that inspectors also uncovered high-fat dairy products made with raw materials from third countries, violating prior agreements to use domestic inputs or those sourced from the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union. Accusing Armenian authorities of failing to build a reliable verification system, the agency said the issues mirror violations uncovered in 2023 and 2024. “This is especially true for milk collected from individual private farms, which cannot guarantee the safety of their yields,” Rosselkhoznadzor said, adding that Armenia’s laboratory infrastructure requires “urgent attention.” Separately, Russia also banned imports of tomatoes and other produce from five Uzbekistan-based exporters starting Thursday, citing alleged pest contamination. Read more about: Armenia , Trade , Agriculture Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Orders Total Ban on Fish Imports From Armenia The move follows previous Russian restrictions on the import and transit of most Armenian food, seeds, flowers, wood and fertilizer. 2 Min read Russia Issues Sweeping Ban on Armenian Imports After Pashinyan’s Victory Russia will restrict imports of most food, seeds, flowers, wood and fertilizer from Armenia starting on Friday. 2 Min read Russia Restricts Fish Imports From Armenia as Diplomatic Tensions Rise The measure adds to a growing list of food and beverage restrictions as Yerevan pursues ties with the European Union. 2 Min read EU Lawmakers Approve Tariffs on Russian Fertilizer Imports More than a quarter of the EU’s nitrogen-based fertilizer imports currently come from Russia, with additional volumes entering from Belarus. 2 Min read