March 14, 2006

Russia bans pork from German state North-Rhine-Westphalia

Russia has imposed a temporary ban on imports of live pigs, pork and pork products from the German state of North-Rhine-Westphalia due to registered cases of classical swine fever, said Russia's agricultural ministry Monday.

German authorities have ordered the destruction of all pigs in the two outbreaks and in all farms located in a zone of one kilometre around the outbreaks.

Russia is a large importer of meat. In 2004, Russia's imports of frozen and chilled animal meat from outside the Commonwealth of Independent States, consisting mostly of beef and pork, amounted to 1.202 million tonnes, up 36.9 percent on the year, according to official customs statistics.