Major threat to €100m beef export trade with Russia averted after talks

A MAJOR threat to Ireland’s €100 million beef exports to Russia has been averted following prolonged technical negotiations between the EU and the government in Moscow on veterinary certification procedures.

Uniform food safety veterinary certificates rather than individual documents to cover all meat imports from the EU, worth €1.3 billion a year to European producers, are to be introduced.

The decision, which will allow EU exports to Russia of live animals and animal products to continue from October 1 without disruption, was welcomed yesterday by Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA). MII spokesman Cormac Healy said the loss or even disruption to trade with the Russian market would have been a catastrophe for the beef sector.