Russia lifts ban on pork imports from three Belarusian producers
MOSCOW. Oct 17 (Interfax) - Russia's Federal Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Oversight Service lifted a ban on pork imports from three Belarusian producers effective October 17.
The head of the watchdog, Sergei Dankvert told Interfax that imports will now be allowed from the Minsk, Borisov and Slutsk meat processing plants.
Imports of pork from Belarus were banned on August 26 due to outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF).
Dankvert said the decision to lift the ban was made following inspections by Russian and Belarusian specialists in the Minsk and Mogilev regions. "The inspections showed that our Belarusian colleagues are working fairly effectively. A number of tougher provisions aimed at preventing the spread of AFS have been entered into Belarusian legislation recently," he said.
Dankvert told Interfax earlier that for now permission to ship products to Russia would be given to 30-40% of the producers who previously exported their products. The level of protection at these producers must comply with Russia's fourth category, the highest level of protection from ASF.
