Russian analysts warn that Chinese black caviar is being sold in bulk as Russian-made product within the domestic market. This concern was reported by a major publication.
Alexander Novikov, head of the Sturgeon Breeders Association and owner of the Russian Caviar House, said that illegal Chinese caviar accounts for roughly 40% of what is sold in Russia as caviar. He noted that in 2022 alone, official imports from China reached about 18.5 tons, yet a portion of those products were marketed as Russian caviar.
Novikov added that alongside legal imports, there are illicit shipments from China entering Russia, with volumes estimated at 1.5 to 2 times the legally recorded amounts.
The expert observed that Chinese caviar generally does not meet the same quality standards as homegrown products. He pointed to the use of non-traditional breeding methods and GMO ingredients in some Chinese sturgeon operations.
Oleg Pavlov, deputy chairman of the Public Council of Rospotrebnadzor and head of the Public Consumer Initiative, stressed that the sizable price gap tempts unscrupulous traders to buy inexpensive Chinese caviar and resell it as Russian, earning large margins.
Pavlov also noted that the state currently lacks effective tools to monitor production and sale of black caviar, and that consumers often struggle to visually distinguish Russian from cheaper Chinese products.
Earlier assessments explored the question: Why is Chinese black caviar sold under a Russian label?
Additionally, Russia has recently seen sharp changes in other import patterns.