On April 19, the Belarusian Ministry of Health announced the lifting of the import ban on products from the Russian company Orimi. The move opens Belarus to a range of beverages and coffee brands produced by Orimi, including Greenfield, Tess, Princess Nuri, Princess Java, Pearl of the Nile, Gita, Shah, and Princesses of Kandy, as well as Jardin and Jockey coffee. The ministry noted that the decision was based on presented evidence about the effectiveness of quality and safety control measures carried out by the company. This marks a significant shift after a period of strict scrutiny over the compliance of Orimi products with Belarusian health standards and consumer safety expectations. Belarusian Ministry of Health statement.
Previously, Orimi faced a comprehensive ban on all its products entering Belarus. The latest decision reportedly reflects a stabilization in the assessment of the companys ability to meet Belarusian requirements for product safety, labeling, and traceability. Orimi representatives have argued that the detected violations were not systematic and likely occurred due to non-compliance with transportation or storage conditions after the products left Russian warehouses and were moved to Belarusian distributors. The company emphasized that these lapses were not indicative of ongoing quality failures and did not impact the overall integrity of the brand range. Belarusian health authorities and Orimi officials have since presented data and audits intended to reassure regulators and consumers alike. Ministry health authorities and Orimi spokespeople provided ongoing briefings to clarify the nature of the earlier concerns.
The lifting of the ban came after the Belarusian health authorities reported incidents where mold was detected in certain tea products, including Gita and Princess Kandy varieties, which had previously prompted stricter controls on the entire Orimi assortment. In response to those findings, a temporary suspension of some product lines was observed while safety investigations and corrective actions were implemented. The latest update indicates that those issues have been addressed to the satisfaction of the supervising agencies, allowing the resumption of imports subject to ongoing monitoring and compliance checks. Belarusian health authorities and independent inspectors have collaborated to ensure that manufacturing and distribution partners maintain required hygiene and storage standards.
In related regulatory movements, Armenia had previously restricted imports of dairy products from Russia as part of wider regional safety and sanitary measures. The Armenia decision underscores how health and safety considerations influence bilateral trade in consumer goods across neighboring markets, reinforcing the need for rigorous testing, certification, and transparent supply chains. Belarusian health authorities, trade observers, and industry stakeholders are expected to continue monitoring how the Orimi brand portfolio adheres to evolving import requirements, consumer protection norms, and market best practices in both Belarus and the broader Eurasian region.