January 25, 2011
 

Russia bans Germany pork and pig products

Russia has banned pork and pig imports from Germany as of yesterday (Jan 24) after the country pushed for confirmation on whether dioxins are present in imported meat. 

However, the Head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Sergei Dankvert, has said this action has come due to the fact that Germany cannot offer guarantees that there is no dioxin in the imported meat.

Pork imports from Germany have also been banned by Belarus, Ukraine and South Korea.

In the scandal, the North German company Harles & Jentzsch manufactured fat components for the compound feed industry. It was with this company that the dioxin contamination was discovered.

The dioxin is believed to have stemmed from feed contaminated with industrial fats. Authorities believe these fats were substituted for vegetable fats at some point in the tainted feed's manufacturing process.