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U.S. says Russia refused to discuss ractopamine before meat import ban
Story Date: 2/12/2013
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Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 2/11/13
As Russia’s ban on U.S. meat and turkey imports goes into effect today, U.S. officials are calling for an immediate overturn of the decision, saying it flies in the face of scientific evidence and international food safety standards.
“Despite repeated U.S. requests to discuss the safety of ractopamine, Russia has refused to engage in any constructive dialogue and instead has simply suspended U.S. meat imports,” U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a joint statement. “The United States calls on Russia to restore market access for U.S. meat and meat products immediately and to abide by its obligations as a Member of the World Trade Organization.”
As of Feb. 11, Russia is prohibiting imports of all U.S. beef, pork, turkey and other meat products by requiring a zero tolerance for the presence of ractopamine.
“Russia has disregarded the extensive and expert scientific studies conducted by the international food safety standards body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which has repeatedly concluded that animal feed containing the additive ractopamine is completely safe for livestock and for humans that consume their meat," the statement continued. “Russia’s failure to adopt the Codex standard raises questions about its commitment to the global trading system.”
Ractopamine is an animal feed additive used in 27 countries.
Long game
Meanwhile, Reuters reported the Russian news agency Interfax quoted Gennady Onishchenko, the head of Russia's consumer safety watchdog, as saying he does not expect the ban to end any time soon.
"Apparently the ban on practically all U.S. meat and meat products will be long term," Onishchenko was quoted as saying.
For more stories, go to http://www.meatingplace.com/.
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