May 23, 2008

Russia bans meat imports from more EU companies

Russia's agricultural authority, Rosselkhoznador, has banned meat shipments from 18 European producers.

The office's laboratories established the presence of hazardous and prohibited substances in the meat products imported from three producers in Belgium, five in Germany, two in Spain and eight in France.

Early this month, the European Commission has urged Russia to lift bans on meat imports from companies in seven member states, including these four countries.

Russia has introduced a series of company-specific bans on pork, beef and poultry imports after determining that antibiotic levels in the meat shipments exceeded safe limits.