Farmers welcome EU offer to help in wake of Russian ban

European farmers and co-ops have welcomed moves by Brussels to help their industry after Russia banned food imports from the bloc in retaliation for sanctions arising from the Ukraine crisis.

Russia’s ban will be for one year and will cover imports of meat, fish, milk and milk products, fruit and vegetables from the European Union.

Ireland’s agri-food trade with Russia is less than 2.5% of the country’s total exports from the sector.