EU member states have been warned to check for unusual trading patterns as it builds its sanctions programmes against Russia.
New guidance from the 27-nation bloc urges members to compare current volumes of cargos with historic averages from the last three years to try to spot efforts at circumventing bans and restrictions on Russian imports.
The EU has introduced six packages of sanctions to increase economic pressure on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February to try to undermine its ability to wage war.
