Russian authorities conducted "systematic" inspections at French supermarket chain Auchan following concerns about poor-quality meat, officials said Wednesday.
The inspections come at a time of tension between France and Russia over the extension of European Union sanctions and France's decision to cancel a deal to provide warships to Russia.
Inspections are underway across all of Auchan's stores in Moscow with the support of prosecutors, said Anna Popova, head of the state consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor, in comments reported by Russian media.
"Since the middle of June, a systematic, complete, planned inspection of all shops from the Auchan chain in Moscow has been underway," Popova said.
The inspections were planned months in advance and are a regular procedure, agency spokeswoman Anna Sergeyeva told The Associated Press, adding that on-the-ground checks have now finished and the agency is waiting for results of lab tests. Findings should be published within two weeks, she said.
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