Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 6/25/15


Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the order to extend Russia’s ban on imports of meat and other goods from the United States,the European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway.

The ban was initially enacted last August in response to sanctions by those countries against Russia in response to events in the Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula.

On Monday, the EU decided to extend its sanctions against Russia for six months; Russia’s continuation of the ban is seen as its response to the EU’s decision, according to reports in Russian media.

In response to Russia’s announcement, North American Meat Institute CEO Barry Carpenter said, in a statement, “We were extremely troubled by news today that Russia intends to extend its unjustified ban on U.S. meat and other agricultural products.

Continuing this ban ignores the free trade obligations that came with Russia’s 2012 decision to join the World Trade Organization. … Establishing and maintaining open and fair trading systems and standards are the best means of ensuring the delivery of the best and safest food products to consumer around the world.”

Russia’s ban is due to run for a year starting from June 24, 2015. It affects beef, pork, poultry meat, fish, cheese, milk, vegetables and fruit.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.