Sergei Dankvert, head of the Russian veterinary authority Rosselkhoznador, said the VPSS is in the process of preparing a list of Chinese companies that would be allowed to supply pork to Russia.

Li Guoxiang, deputy director of the Rural Development Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, said: "China is the world's biggest pork producer and has a well-developed pork processing industry, which has implemented strict quality control on its exported pork products."

In a response to sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union, Russia earlier this month imposed a yearlong ban on all meat, fish, poultry, fruit and vegetables from the EU and the US.

"This move is a sign that Russia is no longer just importing China's vegetables and fruit," said Mr Li.

"The nation will purchase more Chinese meat and farm products to reduce supply pressure while the diplomatic relations between Russia and the West remain unclear."