Russia recently banned imports from Roshen after its health and safety authority, Rospotrebnadzor, allegedly found risky levels of carcinogenic compound Benzo[a]pyrene in Roshen products. The ban came shortly after an emergency import tax on cars by the Ukrainian government, which made car exportation more costly for Russia.
However, Moldova, Tadzhikistan, Kazakhstan and Belarus investigated the concerns flagged by Russia and found no health risks.
Roshen’s PR director Inna Petrenko told ConfectioneryNews: “Moldova, Tadzhikistan, Kazakhstan and Belorussia announced in mass-media that they have made their independent expertise and informed that there is no grounds to worries concerning the safety and quality of Roshen products.”
Rospotrebnadzor can still not be reached for comment and according to Petrenko, Roshen has still not received any official information from the Russian Federal Service about the ban which was imposed 29 July and was rumored some time before this.
'Consumers can relax'
Moldova's Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Vasile Bumacov told the Moldovan press that Roshen confectionery products were not dangerous.
"These confectionery products have been tested, although there was no particular need for such tests. Consumers can relax. The sweets delivered to Moldova do not contain anything hazardous to health and they comply with the necessary standards."