July 14, 2006

Russia halts poultry imports from Brazilian state

The Russian federal food quality watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said Friday it was temporarily banning all imports of poultry from the Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul.

The Russian watchdog said poultry from Rio Grande do Sul has not been thermally treated, despite cases of Newcastle disease reported in the state.

Russia consumes 2.2 million-2.7 million tonnes of poultry a year, and the imports from Rio Grande do Sul amount to over 1 million tonnes a year. Brazil supplies 26 percent of Russia's total poultry imports.