The raised duties, which also apply to imported carrots, beets, onions and cabbage, now amount to 180 percent of customs value and will be in effect for six months.

Over the next nine months the Belarusian government plans to increase duties on imports of some consumer goods by 25-40 per cent.

Under the new rules, new import duties will not apply to food products supplied from the EU, Turkey, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The Government says it has made the move to protect and support local farmers.