The news was revealed by Hugo Fragos, head of the Mexican National Service for Health, Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, at the recent ‘Green Week’ conference in Berlin.
Fragos said: "The growth promoter of muscle tissue in animals, ractopamine, has been banned from use in the meat industry in Mexico, while the use of other beta-agonists is currently strictly controlled."
In December 2012, Rosselkhoznadzor limited imports of meat from Brazil, Mexico, Canada and the USA following the detection of ractopamine in shipments from these countries.
The additive is banned in 160 countries, including the those in the Customs Union and the European Union (EU). As a result, Mexico’s overall meat export supplies dropped by 18% year-on-year, from 149,800 tonnes (t) in 2012, to 122,500t in 2013.
"The Mexican veterinary service has taken into account the recommendations of the Russian veterinary service, which were given to us following inspections in 2013," said Fragos. Rosselkhoznadzor also stated: "Given this context, Mexico has asked [the Russian veterinary body] to grant it the right to initiate supplies of beef to Russia."
Fragos also provided the deputy head of Rosselkhoznadzor, Eugene Nepoklonov, with all the necessary documentation confirming the measures taken by the Mexican industry to meet the demands of the Customs Union’s veterinary laws, according to representatives from the Russian veterinary body.
Given the current deficit of meat in Russia, the opportunity looks promising for Mexican suppliers, especially for beef producers. Earlier, the Mexican Beef Feedlotters Association (AMEG) forecast that the country’s export supplies could rise to 170,000t of beef per year if the Russian market were reopened.
According to official statistical information from AMEG, beef exports in the period from January-October 2014 amounted to 119,647t (+13.7% year-on-year), with a total value of US$766,517 (+33.84% yoy).
Mexican beef exports this year are expected to reach 160,000t, so the potential volume of supplies to Russia could be at least 10,000t. This figure would make Russia the third-largest purchaser of Mexican beef after the US and Japan.
A source at Rosselkhoznadzor said the probability that restrictions on Mexican beef would be lifted was high, "as the Mexican side is ready to meet all the Customs Union’s requirements and is willing to prove it as soon as possible".