Russia to ban imports of Sazerac Bourbon

Russia’s consumer rights protection body is planning to suspend imports of Sazerac’s Kentucky Gentleman Bourbon amid health and quality concerns, reports have claimed.

Russia is preparing to ban imports of Sazerac’s Kentucky Gentleman Bourbon, reports claim

According to The Moscow Times, Russia’s Rospotrebnadzor agency is preparing to suspend imports of the Bourbon brand after finding signs of phthalates organic chemicals.

Rospotrebnadzor claims that phthalates are capable of causing cancer and fertility problems among other health concerns.

The organisation said it is currently only examining products from the Barton 1972 Distillery, where Kentucky Gentleman is made.

Meanwhile Russian news agency Itar Tass, reports that Kentucky Gentleman Bourbon had not gone through state registration with regards to its compliance with regulations of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

A number of reports have linked this ban to other sanctions imposed by Russia on products from the West amid conflict over the Ukraine crisis.

Sazerac has not yet responded to The Spirits Business’ comment requests.