January 31, 2013

Russia may ban meat and dairy imports from German regions

Russia may suspend meat and dairy imports from three areas in Germany, according to head of the Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight Service (Rosselkhoznadzor), Sergei Dankvert.

"The results of inspections conducted by our specialists at meat and dairy enterprises in Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia compel us to introduce restrictions on the delivery of products from those regions," Dankvert said, adding that a ban could take effect on February 11.

During the inspections, it was established that the enterprises involved were not meeting Russian and Customs Union veterinary-sanitary requirements and were not following Customs Union rules for milk and dairy products, Dankvert said.

Measures Rosselkhoznadzor has taken and requirements are analogous to those the EU has announced in relation to product shipments from Russia. "Finished product has to be made from raw material provided solely from Russian enterprises certified to export to the EU," Dankvert said.