August 19, 2009

Russia may ban beef imports from 15 US firms

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight may suspend beef imports from 15 US companies, according to the service's head Sergei Dankvert on Tuesday (Aug 18).

The ban will be implemented if the US health authorities do not provide the Service with monitoring data on supplied beef's conformity to Russian veterinary and sanitary requirements, Dankvert said.

The Russian service requested for the data after an inspection of the companies during November 29 to December 21, 2008. But the Service received data on the beef's compliance to US standards instead of to Russian standards, he said.

About 73 US beef firms supply their products to Russia.