Russia to examine its E. coli produce ban

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MOSCOW, June 3 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he will investigate whether a ban on vegetable imports from Europe into Russia was justified.

"We expect our European partners to name the source for infection," Putin said. "I will check the reasons for the ban given by sanitary doctors, but, however, we will wait for any information to this effect from our colleagues in the European Commission."

Vegetables imported from the European Union have been removed from Moscow sale networks, ITAR-Tass reported Friday.

Only Russian vegetables and products from "permitted" countries are in supermarkets, trade representatives said.

"We follow the directions of Rospotrebnadzor," the federal customer rights protection and human welfare agency, the representatives said.

They gave no information about the quantity of products removed or the possible economic losses involved, ITAR-Tass said.

Despite the ban there will be no shortage of cucumbers and tomatoes in Moscow, Mikhail Orlov, head of the city trade department, said.

"No problems with vegetables in Moscow stores and on markets are expected," he said, noting that farm products are brought to the capital not only from Europe, but from Russian regions and other countries.