Russian govt supports negotiations to sign protocol on supplying domestic pork to China

MOSCOW. Dec 18 (Interfax) - The Russian government has supported the proposal of the Agriculture Ministry to hold talks with China on signing a protocol that would permit starting supplies of Russian pork to the Chinese market.

"Accept the proposal of the Russian Agriculture Ministry, as agreed with the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, to hold talks on signing a protocol between the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) and the General Customs Administration of the People's Republic of China on inspection, quarantine, and veterinary and sanitary requirements for pork exported from Russian Federation to the People's Republic of China," according to the Russian government's order, signed December 16, 2023, and posted on the official legal information portal.

As reported, China in September this year lifted the epizootic restrictions on African swine fever that had been in force for Russia since 2008, which should permit the start of supplying Russian pork to China going forward.

Exports will start after passing a series of procedures to open the Chinese market. Specifically, representatives of the General Customs Administration of the People's Republic of China visited Russia from December 4 to 14 as part of the procedures, with the representatives having studied the veterinary supervision system, the operations of Rosselkhoznadzor research institutes, as well as Russian pig-breeding enterprises interested in supplying products to China.

According to estimates from the National Union of Pig Breeders, Russian pork exports to China could reach 150,000-200,000 tonnes per year. Overall exports of Russian pork could reach 400,000-500,000 tonnes per year to the Chinese market, and the union forecasts exports at 250,000 tonnes this year.