Photo: mehosklad.ru
The European Commission explained the review of the ban by citing the lack of comparable alternatives to Russian raw materials. Russia holds a dominant position in the global sable fur market, so European manufacturers have found it difficult to find other suppliers. “Apparently, it is very difficult to source them anywhere else,” a high-ranking EU official told Euractiv.
According to the publication, Italy and Greece—the EU’s largest importers of this raw material for the fur industry—pushed for the exclusion of sable pelts from the sanctions list.
However, the ban on imports of finished products made from Russian sable fur remains in effect. Restrictions on luxury goods continue to apply to fur coats and other fur products of Russian origin.
The 21st package of EU sanctions took effect on July 23. Its adoption had been delayed due to disagreements among member states, including Greece’s demand for exemptions for its shipping sector.
According to the Financial Times, the current sanctions package may be the last in its current format. Discussions are underway in Brussels regarding a transition to a more flexible mechanism, under which restrictions would be adopted in small, thematic blocks rather than large packages. This approach is expected to reduce the risk of individual EU countries blocking new sanctions.
