December 24, 2013

Russia may ban beef imports from Australia on ractopamine use

Russia may decide to impose a ban on the import of number of goods of "high risk category" from Australia in the next week or two, according to Alexei Alexeenko, from the Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor.

He said the ban will be applied "mostly to beef supplies", however other types of meat may also may be affected as long as there exists the possibility that it contains ractopamine or trenbolone.

In meat products from Australia has been found ractopamine. At the same time Rosselkhoznadzor discovered that they are using other growth stimulators that are not allowed in Russia. In this connection, "we will implement serious measures to the enterprises. Now, our experts assess the scale of the problem," he said.

Rosselkhoznadzor also announced it has expanded testing on products coming from Australia, and is calling on Australian authorities to validate the security of its supplies.

In 2012, Rosselkhoznadzor repeatedly stated that Australian manufacturers of meat used ractopamine. At present, 47 Australian companies have access to the Russian market, although eight of those companies are currently under restriction.

A report by the body said: Ractopamine is used in animal husbandry to gain the muscle of animals. This additive is banned in 160 countries, including the members of the Custom Union countries and in the EU. Because of it, Rosselkhoznadzor from December 2012 significantly reduced the list of suppliers of meat and meat products from Mexico, Canada and Brazil, and in February of this year, imposed a ban on the import of pork and beef from the US.

According to official information on the results of 2013, Australia will deliver 30,000 tonnes of beef to Russia.

According to Australian exporters, the Russian market is very important for Australian beef producers - in particular they had previously expressed concerns about Russia's intentions to allow the export of beef from the US in early 2014, which could damage Australia's livestock positions in the Customs Union.

Currently, experts do not exclude the possibility that the ban on the import of beef from Australia can be put in parallel with the partial lifting of a ban on beef imports from the US, in order not to create a shortage in the market.