MOSCOW, April 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will issue new licenses for poultry imports within two weeks, the agriculture minister said Thursday.

"False licenses have appeared in Russia," Alexei Gordeyev said. "To stem this trend, we have decided to issue new and more protected licenses instead of old permits."

The federal veterinary watchdog banned Thursday all permits on the import of poultry meat and products due to violations of veterinary laws.

New import licenses will be issued under a simplified procedure, the ministry said.