December 15, 2006

Russia to have beef deal with Ireland

Russia has put Ireland at the centre of a potentially embarrassing row in the EU by seeking a bilateral deal on beef imports.

While Ireland considers Russia one of the fastest growing retail markets in the world, the former is ideally placed to exploit those opportunitiesis, feels the latter. Russia's beef trade with Ireland is worth EUR 40 million (US$ 52 million), a value set to double over the next two years, according to government figures.

The move follows Russia's refusal to accept Polish beef over food hygiene standards. The country has now been seeking bilateral agreements with individual EU states.

While Ireland wants to continue its beef trade with Russia, the latter insists on a bilateral agreement as a condition for doing so. Russia, earlier threatened to ban imports of all EU animal products from Jan 1, citing health and safety concerns arising from swine fever in Bulgaria and Romania.

EU states however, want to maintain a united trade with Russia. The issue would have been particularly embarrassing for Irish PM Bertie Ahern who was supposed to attend a EU summit in Brussels Thursday, Dec 14 and to Fianna Fail MEPs, the latter allied to Poland's ruling Justice and Law party in the European Parliament.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail MEP Liam Aylward stressed on serious diplomatic efforts in order to avoid a Russian ban on Irish and European beef.

A Russian ban on imports of meat, dairy and fish products from the EU would mean a huge loss of trade.