Russian envoy to explain imports ban

RUSSIAN ambassador Vladimir Rakhmani has been invited to attend a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food to explain why his country proposes to ban imports of all European Union meat from January 1.

Committee chairman Fianna Fáil TD Johnny Brady said he had requested the attendance of Mr Rakhmani so that members can impress upon him the devastating effect a ban on Irish beef going into Russia will have on farmers here.

The Russian plan stems from a ban by them on meat imports from Poland and other claims by the Federation that EU accession states Romania and Bulgaria are not yet producing food to EU standard.