Two subsidiaries of Chinese pig producer and pork processor WH Group have been given clearance to export pork to Russia. Russia’s decision to open trade with China puts an end a ten-year ban on Chinese pork.
According to a China Topix report, Russia’s federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance has officially approved shipments of frozen pork from WH Group’s Shuanhui Beidahuang Food Co. and Heilonjiang Baoquanling Shuanghui Food Industry Co. to come into Russia.
“Our two companies are stepping up manufacturing of frozen port products to satisfy demand from Russian importers,” said WH Group spokesperson Liu Jintao.
An agreement was reached in August between Russian and Chinese officials that would allow five Chinese companies – including the two WH Group subsidiaries -- to export meat products into Russia.
Russia had been looking at markets to ship pork and other meat products into the country after it on August 6 imposed a ban on agricultural and food products from the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway. Included in that ban are products from another WH Group subsidiary, Smithfield Foods. WH Group in September 2013 acquired the U.S.-based Smithfield Foods, which at the time was the world’s largest pig producer and pork processor.
