January 21, 2011

Russia to curb German pork imports

Rosselkhoznadzor will impose interim restrictions on imports of pork, slaughter and fattening pigs from Germany starting January 24, the watchdog said Thursday (Jan 20).

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, which has recently discovered dioxin in poultry and pig feed, said that the restrictions cover products made after November 1, 2010 and not wholly checked by the German state veterinary laboratory.

At the start of January, Russia and Germany agreed that the German veterinary service will check 10% of all pork exports to Russia. However, the statement said that the situation with dioxin contamination had broken out of control and Russia cannot be satisfied with 10% checks.