September 11, 2009
Russia to regulate meat imports in 2010-12
The Ministry of Agriculture of Russia has developed a decree that will regulate meat imports to Russia in 2010-2012.
The new law will slash the quota of poultry imports from 952,000 tonnes this year to 550,000 tonnes in 2012. The quota for pork will gradually decline, while beef quota will rise slightly.
The duty rates on extra-quota imports will be increased for all types of meat. Russia will either keep its current country principle of quotas allocation or adjust it according to real import volumes.
The allocation of quotas among countries should be carefully worked out, said Sergei Yushin, head of the executive committee of the Russian Meat Association.
He suggested that countries that fail to supply the guaranteed volumes of quotas should have their quotas reduced.
Galina Bobyleva, CEO of the Russian Poultry Union, believes that local producers are ready to offset the reduction in poultry imports.
Price fluctuations in the poultry industry are not expected if the grain market is stable, she said.
For the first seven months of 2009, Russian poultry production has increased by 142,000 tonnes compared to the same period in 2008.
