Russia set to do U-turn on EU pork ban
A meeting between the EU Commission services in charge of veterinary, sanitary and phytosanitary issues (SPS) and their Russian counterparts in Berlin, Germany, on 15 January, produced positive outcomes, which, according to preliminary information, should allow the resumption of the EU export of some products from the pork sector to Russia, said the European Livestock and Meat Trades Union (UECBV).
Welcoming this news, the UECBV said these initial outcomes were the result of months of dialogue, referring to them as the first concrete agreement between the EU and Russia on improving their trading relationship in the livestock sector.
Russia imposed a ban on pork products from Europe in January last year, in reaction to several outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in Eastern Europe.
According to UECBV: "They have the potential to restore confidence between the two regions and to provide support to the EU pork market.
"Thanks to this constructive dialogue the EU pig farmers and pork industry may restore up to around 40% of the exports to Russia," said Sandra Splouchal, policy & communications advisor, UECBV.
The association said that EU member states would now start working on the technical specifications for a resumption of the export of specific products, "without prejudice to the Russian embargo implemented last August".
UECBV added that it hoped the achievement would open the door to a final agreement on the SPS issues for the pork sector, aiming at restoring sustainable trade.
