December 18, 2012

EU open doors to Russia's poultry exports

The EU market is now open to poultry exports from Russia after a similar agreement was concluded with the Ukraine.

Poultry companies must now submit applications to Russia's veterinary watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, with the first deliveries to Europe expected at the at the end of February 2013.

Representatives of the largest producers of poultry meat in Russia have generally welcomed this decision.

Industry experts pointed out that the Russia's exports to EU may be hampered by the lack of programmes to combat salmonella in poultry production, as well as by high prices.

However, with poultry production in Russia expected to grow from 3.5 million tonnes (mt) to 4.5 million tonnes by 2020, Russia will have to increase its poultry meat exports by 20-25 times compared to the current level to 500,000-600,000 tonnes per year.