The Government has extended the ban on food imports (fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, milk and dairy) from Western countries (including the United States of America and the European Union) until the end of 2017. The ban was first introduced in August 2014 in response to sanctions imposed by these countries over the Ukraine crisis, and was already extended last year (FPMA Food Policies). This further extension follows the recent decision of the European Union to prolong the sanctions against the Russian Federation until the end of January 2017. The United States of America had already decided in March to extend its bans until 6 March 2017.