May 6, 2011

Belarus adjusts import requirements on German pork and poultry

Belarus will no longer require dioxin tests on pork and poultry imports from Germany after May 1 and April 1, 2011, respectively.

The import requirements were changed after Belarus had analysed the report received from the Chief Veterinary Inspector of Germany about exhaustive measures to prevent dioxins from getting into animal products. However, the restrictions on the import of pigs for slaughtering and young pigs for fattening remain in place.

In early 2011, Belarus imposed a ban on the import of animal products, feedstuff and feed supplements from Germany following the dioxin scandal. In March, Belarus lifted the ban on the import of pork, poultry and finished pork products produced after November 1, 2010. Each batch of products had to be accompanied with a protocol of laboratory tests carried out in one of the EU accredited laboratories.