MOSCOW - As of February 11, Russia will be instituting a virtually complete ban on meat and meat product from the United States over the use of the beta stimulant ractopamine in livestock-rearing.
Ractopamine is used to stimulate muscle growth in livestock raised for their meat.
Russia’s Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight Service
(Rosselkhoznadzor) will on that date have in place restrictions on the
import into Russia of frozen pork and beef, ready meat products, turkey
meat, and offal and pork and beef subproducts due to ractopamine use in
the production. Restrictions have been in effect since February 4 on the
import of refrigerated meat from the United States for this reason. The
ban does not apply only to chicken.
Aside from the U.S., among Russia’s supplier-countries ractopamine is
actively used in Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. But these countries
continue to supply Russia with product as they have agreed to meet
Russian requirements. These include each consignment of product shipped
to Russia being accompanied by certification that it has been inspected
and does not contain ractopamine. Furthermore, product must come from
livestock raised without the use of the stimulant.
Despite multiple Rosselkhoznadzor requests, the United States has
provided no guarantee there is no ractopamine in livestock product
shipped to Russia.
In a letter to Ronald Johns, deputy food safety service administer at
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rosselkhoznadzor expressed regret
over the situation and pointed out that the U.S. had been cautioned more
than once about the possible outcome.
Rosselkhoznadzor discussed the situation last week with Russian meat
market operators and oriented importers working with the United States
toward the development of other foreign markets.
