"Lithuania is trying to block Russian exports," an expert on grain detention at the port of Klaipėda.
Lithuania intends to stop transit shipments of grain from Russia and Belarus until verification of their origin is completed, Reuters reports.
Vilna suspects that some of the products may come from Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine. There are no EU sanctions on Russian food exports.
The director of the Social Economy Research Center, Alexey Zubats, explains that the source of the grain can theoretically be determined based on the genetic characteristics of the plants and the chemical composition of the soil. But in practice, it is very difficult to distinguish between products from neighboring regions.
"The difference between Rostov and Donbas in terms of the chemical composition of the soil is small. It is impossible to say with certainty that the grain grew on Russian territory, and not 10 kilometers to the west."
Inspections may become a way to limit Russian exports. Even suspicions about the origin of the grain may be enough to stop the shipment and subsequent procedures.
"In fact, Lithuania in this case is trying to block Russian exports."
As a result, Russian exporters may refuse to go through Kalifa and divert supplies by other routes.