Russia sets new meat bans on EU

New bans on various EU meat companies have been implemented by the Russian veterinary authorities, after hazardous bacteria were supposedly detected in meat batches supplied from some EU plants.

Most businesses affected by the restrictions are from Germany (5 plants producing bacon and pork trimmings) and Belgium (5 enterprises producing pigs's head meat), where salmonella contamination was found.

Prohibition on shipments to Russia also includes a Danish poultry plant (detection of listeria bacteria) and one Spanish processor, specialising in the production of pig tongues (salmonella was found).

However, most of the EU meat exporters said that Russia sometimes demand so many additional and very expensive researches that few can afford it. Moreover, implementation of all these studies makes it unprofitable for further meat exports to Russia.

According to some sources in the Polish Meat Association, even having an export license may not mean anything, as many EU meat businesses have such a certificate, but do not use it due to strict Russian veterinary requirements.