OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus plans to increase dairy products imports to Russia by 40%, and supply about 70,000 tonnes of cheese in August-December, Agriculture Minister Leonid Zayats said in a news conference Thursday.

“There is no need for us to raise prices, the only thing that matters is to be present on the Russian market with our product. The planned amounts of cheese supplies in August-December is about 70,000 tonnes,” Zayats said, adding that Belarus is now reviewing its goods range and is ready to change business of some dairy producers.

He also said the country is ready to supply over 1 million tonnes of potatoes, over 200,000 tonnes of vegetables, over 100,000 tonnes of flour and increase meat supplies.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Dmitry Mironchik said in a statement Belarus is taking all steps to prevent food transit to Russia from the countries on which it imposed a food import ban.

On August 7, Russia banned imports of beef, pork, poultry, fish, cheese, dairy products, fruit and vegetables from Australia, Canada, Norway, the U.S. and the E.U. for one year as an answer to Western sanctions.