November 13, 2009

Belarus hopes to export red meat to EU

Belarus hopes to start red meat exports to the EU in the next six months, according to a senior government official.

Belarus is currently not presented Europe; its meat and dairy products are in the UK, but they are supplied only as finished products, not raw materials, said the Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus, Semyon Shapiro.

Belarus is currently in negotiations with the EU in order to get access to the lucrative European meat market.

EU experts had examined three leading Belarusian meat companies – JV Santa Bremor Ltd., JSC Savushkin, and OAO Bereza.

Shapiro said the EU had strict requirements on the organisation of the meat production chain in Belarus due to concerns of a new competitor with European producers.

Belarusian products are cheaper due to lower wages and other factors, a trait that is not welcomed by EU meat producers, he said. 

Shapiro added that Russia and Ukraine will remain major meat sales markets for Belarus in the coming years.