December 16, 2014

Belarus suspends export of non-heated pork products to Russia

Belarus has temporarily suspended the export of non-heat-treated pork products to Russia, the country's official news agency Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA) reported.

"Taking into account the current situation, we have instructed the agencies eligible for issuing certificates for the export of pork products to the Russian Federation to temporarily suspend this activity until the circumstances are clarified," Vasily Pivovar, the director of the veterinary and food oversight department of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry, was quoted as telling BelTA. Pivovar did not elaborate.

Pivovar explained that the restrictions applied to pork products that have not been heat-treated at the temperature of +72°С and higher inside the product for 30 minutes.

Earlier in October, Russia temporarily suspended the import of products of nine Belarusian meat processing plants after it had detected the African swine fever (ASF) genome in their products. The ASF genome poses no threat to human health.

A previous report said Russia may resume importing pork from Belarus by December 1 if, after "monitoring the situation till the end of [November]," the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) is "satisfied."