November 26, 2007

Russia to resume beef imports from nearly all Brazilian states

Russia's food safety watchdog is mulling the resumption of beef imports from all Brazilian states which have been banned on foot-and-mouth disease fears.

Rosselkhoznadzor Chairman Sergei Dankvert said the agency is looking at lifting FMD quarantine from Brazil's main meat states.

Dankvert said the list of approved states will be completed by the end of the week, but it will surely include Mato Grosso do Sul and Parana, whose latest FMD outbreaks occurred, respectively, in February 2006 and April 2006.

Companies supplying meat for industrial processing or to be sold freely must be re-certified by Russian veterinary services.

Dankvert maintained that Brazil's veterinary service is not meeting all its obligations. For this reason, Russia has given an extension to Brazil to label all its meat products until January 1, 2008.