March 21, 2012
Russia bans EU's animal feed imports
A day after it banned European pig and cattle imports, Russian state agriculture watchdog said Tuesday (Mar 20) it would suspend imports of certain protein feeds for animals from the EU.
"From March 26, 2012 the Russian agriculture watchdog is suspending supplies to its territory of processed protein of animal origin designated as feed for production animals," the watchdog said in a statement. It said there would be several exceptions to the ban including protein feed made of processed fish.
The ban has been introduced in order to align Russian and foreign legislation and prevent the transmission of spongiform encephalopathy agents, among other reasons, the government watchdog added.
The move comes after Russia said it would go ahead with its threat to block imports of live pigs and cattle from EU states, with the ban beginning Tuesday (Mar 20).
The EU reacted angrily, calling on Russia earlier Tuesday to lift its ban on imports of pigs, cattle and other live animals from the EU, saying it sent a "very bad signal" to trade partners.
Moscow angered the bloc last summer when it banned all EU vegetable imports in advance of a July summit between the two sides.