Russian pork supplies to China could start as early as Jan - watchdog

MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax) - Russia could start supplying pork to China as early as January 2024.

The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, or Rosselkhoznadzor, said that according to understandings with China, Russian pork supplies are expected to start a month after the protocol on inspection, quarantine and veterinary and sanitary requirements for Russian pork was signed. That took place on December 19.

As reported, the signing took place during the 28th regular meeting of the heads of government of both countries in Beijing. The document was signed by the head of Rosselkhoznadzor, Sergei Dankvert, and the head of the General Customs Administration of the People's Republic of China, Yu Jianhua.

Rosselkhoznadzor said that Russia began seeking the right to export Russian pork to the Chinese market in 2016. "Over the past months, Rosselkhoznadzor specialists have done a lot of work to coordinate the requirements proposed by the Chinese side for the control of African swine fever (ASF), including filling out numerous questionnaires for risk assessment with comprehensive information about the system of work of the state veterinary service, traceability, compartmentalization, epizootic control of pig diseases, laboratory monitoring and much more," the message says.

The results of this was the cancellation by the Chinese side in September of this year of temporary ASF restrictions that had been in force in relation to Russia since 2008, as well as the visit of representatives of China's General Administration of Customs to Russia to assess those pig-breeding enterprises who are potential exporters of pork.

The National Union of Pig Breeders says that Russian pork exports to China could reach 150-200,000 tonnes per year. The Chinese market could potentially take 400-500,000 tonnes of Russian pork per year. This year, the union is forecasting 250,000 tonnes.