Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachyov said Russia had seen a dramatic drop in the imports of embargoed food since the introduction of the Aug. 6 decree ordering the destruction of confiscated food.
Imports of embargoed food to Russia have fallen tenfold since the decree came into force, Tkachyov told state-run Rossia-24 television channel on Thursday.
The destruction of banned food defends the Russian market from unfair competition and protects the health of the Russian people, Tkachyov said.
The decree ordering the destruction of confiscated Western food, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 29, has caused an outcry from thousands of Russians as well as a number of officials.
A total of 632 tons of food products has been destroyed in Russia since Aug. 6, according to Rosselkhoznadzor, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday.
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