August 22, 2011

Russia bans meat imports from three Brazilian plants

Three Brazilian meat packing plants have been added to Russia's list of banned imports - one beef and two poultry.

According to that country, the level of bacteria detected in the three export lots was above the accepted limit.

The three plants are located in Cubatão (São Paulo), Xaxim (Santa Catarina) and Estrela d'Oeste (São Paulo). The announcement is of particular concern, as since June 15 the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry has been trying to reverse a Russian ban on meat imports from the states of Mato Grosso, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul.

The Brazilian pork sector has been the most affected by the ban, as Russia is its main buyer and the three banned states hold the biggest number of pork exporters to that country.