Russian ban puts pork farmers under pressure

Pig-meat producers and processors are under severe pressure due to Russia’s “disproportionate” ban on EU pork imports, said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

Russia imposed a ban on all EU pork imports when Lithuanian authorities discovered two cases of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar, near its border with Belarus, in January. Poland has also since notified the EU Commission of an outbreak of ASF in its territory.

However, the minister said that Russia’s block ban does not conform to the OIE’s (the international organisation for animal health) “regionalisation” rules, which allow for trade with unaffected states. The EU-Russia talks are ongoing.