September 8, 2010
Russia suspends meat imports from seven plants
Russia's watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has imposed restrictions on meat imports from seven plants in Brazil, US, Argentina and Poland, starting Wednesday (Sept 9) over safety concerns.
Tougher sanitary regulations regarding poultry processing that restrict the use of chlorine and moisture content came into force in Russia January 1.
Restrictions on meat supplies have been introduced for one US, one Argentinean, one Polish and four Brazilian companies. Two more Brazilian meat suppliers will be put into Russia's blacklist starting September 14.
In October 2009, the National Veterinary Service of Brazil guaranteed that all the veterinary and sanitary requirements of the Russian legislation would be fully met during the export of animal products to Russia. However, harmful substances were then revealed in meat supplied to Russia.
Rosselkhoznadzor urged Brazil's veterinary service to inspect as soon as possible Brazilian plants supplying meat and poultry to Russia. The absence of a response to Russia's letter concerning the coordination of the inspection terms forced Russia to cut Brazilian meat imports.
In August, Russia lifted a ban on poultry imports from 72 US plants whose production processes met Russian requirements, leaving a ban in place for just five companies.
