Ban on importing livestock products from EU could be eased under specific conditions - head of Rosselkhoznadzor

MOSCOW. Jan 22 (Interfax) - The ban on importing livestock products from the European Union that Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) implemented on January 20, owing to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany, could be eased, though under specific conditions not permitting imports of potentially dangerous products to Russia, Rosselkhoznadzor head Sergei Dankvert said.

"It is currently prohibited to import anything that could carry foot-and-mouth disease. Everything has been suspended at this time. It will be strict for about a month, while see whether it [foot-and-mouth disease] spreads in the EU. There could be some easing later, though there may not be any," Dankvert told reporters on Wednesday on the sidelines of the second forum of dairy industry leaders.

Meantime, he emphasized that the easing would apply only to those enterprises where Russian inspections have been conducted.

"They will only be allowed in after inspection," Dankvert said.

This concerns products that fall outside the scope of the Russian food embargo which was introduced in August 2014, he said. At that time, Russia banned imports of a significant amount of livestock products, and this ban remains in effect.

"But there are many products that are outside the food embargo, including technical fats and various types of composite products - essentially everything supplied with veterinary certificates," he said.

Imports of breeding livestock were also permitted before the January ban.

The EU was the main supplier of breeding animals and other genetic material to Russia in 2023-2024, Rosselkhoznadzor said. In 2023, 4,403 head of breeding pigs were imported, while the number was 2,053 head in 2024, accounting for 99% of total imports.

Imports of breeding cattle and horses in 2023 totaled 19,953 head, while the figure was 3,525 head in 2024, amounting to 88% and 97% of total imports, respectively.

In addition, Russia imported 30.1 million hatching eggs from EU countries in 2023, and 16.1 million in 2024, making up 88% and 85% of total imports, respectively.

Imports of breeding day-old chicks from the EU amounted to 1.4 million head in 2023, 95% of total imports, and 1.3 million head in 2024 (84%).