Belarus has removed its ban on certain food imports from countries it classified as unfriendly, the government’s press service revealed in a statement on Tuesday. The government presented the decision as a reaction to the European Union’s recent increase in tariffs on Belarusian agricultural goods.

“Belarus responded to the latest EU sanctions. On May 22, 2025, the European Parliament approved a draft decision to impose higher customs duties on agricultural imports from the country. In response, the government lifted the ban on the import and distribution in Belarus of potatoes, onions, fresh cabbage, and apples originating from unfriendly countries, including all EU member states,” the statement reads.

Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin approved the resolution on Tuesday. The move comes after a food crisis marked by a notable potato shortage in recent months.

Following its previous decision to grant visa-free entry for citizens of multiple nations, including EU countries, the state is now relaxing its restrictions on agricultural imports from nations it has classified as unfriendly,” the statement added.

On January 1, 2022, Belarus introduced a six-month food embargo on a broad range of Western products, a measure that has been repeatedly extended.

Apart from the goods that were removed from the embargo on Tuesday, Belarus continues to prohibit imports of beef, pork, milk, and dairy products (except those specifically made from lactose-free milk), nuts, sausages, confectionery, and other items. These products remain restricted from entering Belarus.

The nations deemed to have unfriendly policies toward Belarus include all EU member states, along with the United States, Canada, Albania, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Switzerland.

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