Ireland hit by slump in beef exports to Russia following quotas row

BORD BIA has revealed a slump of more than 60% in EU beef exports to Russia in the first quarter of 2004, with Germany, Spain and Ireland absorbing most of this trade setback.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, wrangling over import quotas caused the huge trade cut by the world's third-largest beef importer. Delays calculating new permits are estimated to have cost Russian meat importers almost €210m in the first quarter.