Brazil, Russia discuss meat, poultry, soybean trade

Representatives from Russia and Brazil met recently in Moscow to discuss issues related to bilateral supplies and trade of agricultural products.

Officials from Russia and Brazil met recently to discuss trade of pork, poultry and soybeans. | Rosselkhoznadzor
Officials from Russia and Brazil met recently to discuss trade of pork, poultry and soybeans. | Rosselkhoznadzor

Representatives from Russia and Brazil met recently in Moscow to discuss issues related to bilateral supplies and trade of agricultural products.

According to a news release from Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance, Sergey Dankvert, head of the Rosselkhoznadzor, informed representatives of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, that currently 160 of 318 plants involved in animal product manufacturing are authorized to export to Russia. Of those, 28 are involved in poultry processing and 10 are involved in pork processing.

Rosselkhoznadzor had asked Brazilian colleagues to consider the possibility of Russian establishments’ authorization for export of their products to Brazil, but according to Rosselkhoznadzor, had never received a clear response. Last year Brazil granted access to its market only for three Russian fish processing establishments, the Russian agency stated, but Russia is ready to supply other animal products as well as grain. In this context, the Russian party asked to take an equivalent approach to authorization of export.

Soybean concerns

In the course of the dialogue the Rosselkhoznadzor also expressed its concern over the detection of quarantine pests in Brazilian soybeans exported to Russia. Laboratory tests recently performed by a subordinate to the Rosselkhoznadzor revealed 93 cases of quarantine pest detection in 45 consignments of soybean meal and soybeans. The most frequently detected quarantine pests are richweed, whitestar and bidens. In this context, the Russian party recommended that Brazil improve control of its products destined to Russia.

The issue of genetically modified (GM) soybeans grown in Brazil was also discussed. It was noted that production of GM soybeans can become a substantial reason to restrict export of soybean-based animal feeds.

Ractopamine use

The parties also discussed the use of growth promoters, specifically ractopamine, in Brazilian livestock production. The parties recognized efforts put by authorities to ensure export of meat produced only by growth promoter-free establishments. 

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