Russia orders retailers to withdraw foreign detergents

Russian consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has ordered retailers to withdraw detergents produced by foreign consumer groups.

The regulator said some products of Henkel, Procter & Gamble, ColgatePalmolive, and Clorox had to be removed from the marketplace because they did not meet Russia’s toxicological safety criteria.

Last year, Russia banned food imports from the European Union and United States in retaliation for sanctions over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine conflict. The list of affected countries was expanded this year and Russian regulators have also restricted Dutch flower imports, citing health risks.

Russian media reported that the extent of the withdrawal of foreign detergent brands would only affect some products rather than entire product lines.

Rospotrebnadzor said it was carrying out further tests on household chemicals and detergents of other producers, but did not elaborate.

Henkel said it had not received any notification from Rospotrebnadzor and that all its products had passed toxicological checks in Russia and had a state certificate of safety.

On August 12, Russia added Albania, Montenegro, Liechtenstein and Iceland to a list of countries from which it has banned most food imports in retaliation for sanctions.

Russia’s counter-sanctions, currently in place until August 5, 2016, previously covered the United States, Canada, Norway, Australia and the 28 EU member states, banning meat, fish, dairy products, fruit and vegetables.