September 20, 2010

Russia halts meat imports by 14 foreign companies

Russia has imposed a ban on meat imports by 14 foreign companies due to concerns about antibiotics in the meat, according to Rosselkhoznadzor, the country's sanitary watchdog.

Four of the perpetrators are German producers, and three each are from the Netherlands and Spain. Meat imports from two US companies and one each from France and Poland will be restricted.

The two US pork plants are owned by Smithfield Foods Inc (SFD), said Yevgeniy Khorishko, press secretary for Russia's US embassy.

The quality of these companies' products supplied prior to September 28 will be thoroughly analysed in laboratories.

The regulator will also tighten control over the products of Moldovan meat supplier Mistor-Bras and several Brazilian, Italian and Uruguayan companies after enteric bacteria and other hazardous substances were found in previous batches.

The embargo will become effective on September 28, said Rosselkhoznadzor.