Russia threatened to ban all imports of animal products from the European Union, according to reports on Wednesday.

The concern over food hygiene standards in Romania and Bulgaria, which is due to join the EU on January 1, had provoked the Russians to impose such a ban.

The threat came just two days before the Helsinki summit, where the two sides appear set for fractious talks over their future cooperation.

The ban, if materialized would affect all meat, fish and dairy products, which account for $2.2 billion in EU exports to Russia annually.

The Helsinki summit has already been clouded by Poland’s refusal to agree to starting talks on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Russia.

The talks come amid an increasing EU-Russia divide over energy policy, as Russia continues to reject EU calls for it to adopt an Energy Charter Treaty that would open its pipeline network to third-party access and promote greater competition.

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