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Russia to block import of US meat
18:24, 9 February, 2013
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPESS: Russia's move to ban U.S. meat imports
worth over $500 million each year, over a feed additive, will help
domestic producers withstand an influx of cheap meat after Russia
joined the World Trade Organization (WTO).
As reports Armenpress, referring to Reuters, western food producers
believe protectionism, rather than concern about additives, is its
primary purpose.
The influx has driven down pork prices in particular and threatens
hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in modern pig farms to
supply Russian consumers, who are eating more meat as oil-fuelled
government spending drives up incomes.
Russia's Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS),
Rosselkhoznadzor in Russian, has said it will ban imports of U.S.
beef, pork and turkey from this month because U.S. producers failed to
agree to demands that their exports be certified free of a feed
additive, ractopamine.
"Import is being restrained by the actions of Rosselkhoznadzor, and
that is a stimulating factor for domestic production," Vladimir
Labinov, the head of the livestock department of the Agriculture
Ministry, said this week.
The United States made its opposition clear.
"These actions threaten to undermine our bilateral trade
relationship," Andrea Mead, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade
Representative's office, said last week.
"They are not consistent with international standards and appear to be
inconsistent with Russia's WTO commitments."
Brazilian and Canadian producers have promised to comply. Some Russian
officials say their country could have made more of the issue of the
stimulant.
Since WTO entry, prices for pork in Russia fell from around 94 roubles
($3.11) per kg of carcass weight to as little as 63 roubles in parts
of European Russia where most meat is produced.
"In the United States and Europe, prices for meat are rising and ours
are falling. This is not right because grain prices are rising,"
Sergei Mikhailov, the chief executive of a major Russian pork producer
and processor, told the meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
18:24, 9 February, 2013
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPESS: Russia's move to ban U.S. meat imports
worth over $500 million each year, over a feed additive, will help
domestic producers withstand an influx of cheap meat after Russia
joined the World Trade Organization (WTO).
As reports Armenpress, referring to Reuters, western food producers
believe protectionism, rather than concern about additives, is its
primary purpose.
The influx has driven down pork prices in particular and threatens
hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in modern pig farms to
supply Russian consumers, who are eating more meat as oil-fuelled
government spending drives up incomes.
Russia's Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS),
Rosselkhoznadzor in Russian, has said it will ban imports of U.S.
beef, pork and turkey from this month because U.S. producers failed to
agree to demands that their exports be certified free of a feed
additive, ractopamine.
"Import is being restrained by the actions of Rosselkhoznadzor, and
that is a stimulating factor for domestic production," Vladimir
Labinov, the head of the livestock department of the Agriculture
Ministry, said this week.
The United States made its opposition clear.
"These actions threaten to undermine our bilateral trade
relationship," Andrea Mead, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade
Representative's office, said last week.
"They are not consistent with international standards and appear to be
inconsistent with Russia's WTO commitments."
Brazilian and Canadian producers have promised to comply. Some Russian
officials say their country could have made more of the issue of the
stimulant.
Since WTO entry, prices for pork in Russia fell from around 94 roubles
($3.11) per kg of carcass weight to as little as 63 roubles in parts
of European Russia where most meat is produced.
"In the United States and Europe, prices for meat are rising and ours
are falling. This is not right because grain prices are rising,"
Sergei Mikhailov, the chief executive of a major Russian pork producer
and processor, told the meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress