December 2, 2010

Russia bans pork imports from Brasil Foods' Sadia

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) has decided to temporarily ban pork imports from Brazilian food processor Brasil Foods' (BRF) Sadia unit in Uberlândia city.

The decision was published on November 23 and applies to lots slated for shipment from December 7.

According to Rosselkhoznadzor, routine inspections detected the presence of Salmonella bacteria in pork shipped by the Sadia unit to Russia.

BRF was created last year from the merger of Brazilian food processors Sadia and Perdigão.

Sadia said it has not been notified yet and that it will take all necessary measures in an effort to persuade Russian authorities to reconsider their decision. The suspension will have no impact at all on its operations, given that it has two other plants certified to export pork to the Russian market.