The sale of certain batches of water and carbonated drinks imported from Armenia has been suspended in Russia. The restriction affects over 70,000 bottles that, according to the relevant authorities, do not meet established requirements.
Sales are prohibited in both retail stores and online platforms until the necessary additional inspections are completed. The labeling system operating in Russia allows for the immediate blocking of the specified products at the cash register level, preventing their access to consumers.
The ban applies to specific batches of "Bjni" mineral water, "Prosto Azbuka" natural water, and DARBAS Mojito soft drink produced during specific timeframes. It does not apply to the entire product range of these brands. Imported water in Russia must undergo epidemiological and radiation safety monitoring and meet chemical and organoleptic standards.
Since the end of May, Russia has periodically imposed restrictions on Armenian products, including alcohol, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Official Moscow presents these steps as temporary measures dictated solely by product safety concerns.
For Armenian producers, these restrictions on the Russian market are becoming a recurring challenge. Periodic bans not only hit exporters' revenues but also force companies to quickly seek alternative routes, as economic risks, apart from the political context, are becoming increasingly predictable.
In this case, it is important to understand that verifying technical requirements is a legal right of any country; however, bans on such large batches often reflect broader processes than just sanitary norms. When following further developments, it is worth paying attention to whether similar restrictions will continue to spread to other product types, affecting the volume of Armenian exports.
