Russia set to freeze pork and beef imports from Brazil
Russia will temporarily freeze pork and beef imports from Brazil due to detection of banned substances, says a report by The Moscow Times.
27 November 2017
2 minute read
By: Russia’s Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection Service announced that pathogenic bacteria had been detected in imported beef, pork and poultry from Brazil last week.
The veterinary watchdog announced that it planned to halt beef and pork imports from Brazil starting December 1 2017. The regulator said it made the decision after this year's lab tests indicated the presence of ractopamine, a feed additive used to promote leanness in meat.
Though ractopamine is considered safe for consumption in Brazil and the US, the hormone is banned from use in livestock in Russia; a ban that has been adopted by 160 countries in total.
Ninety percent of Russia's imported pork comes from Brazil which means that the temporary ban could drastically impact meat prices; the Bell business news portal estimated that prices may go up by anything from 5 percent to 20 percent.
Source: The Moscow Times
For more information on the use of ractopamine in pig diets, click here
Emily Houghton
Emily Houghton is a Zoology graduate from Cardiff University and was the editor of The Pig Site from October 2017 to May 2020. Emily has worked in livestock husbandry, and has written, conducted and assisted with research projects regarding the synthesis of welfare and productivity of free-range food species.
