Meat Industry Ireland (MII) is pursuing Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney on pigmeat access to Russia.

The organisation wants him to push for action at EU level to remove technical restrictions on pigmeat exports to Russia. It also wants him to use the upcoming Agriculture Council meeting in Brussels to give clear political direction to the European Commission to urgently engage in discussions with the Russian authorities to resolve the technical embargo on EU pigmeat. Over 2,000 farmers are expected to protest at the meeting in Brussels on 7 September.

The embargo was introduced in January 2014 as a result of limited African swine fever outbreaks in eastern European member states. MII believes that progress in this area could have a positive effect on the EU pigmeat market and could quickly lead to the resumption of exports of certain pigmeat products blocked by the restrictions.

MII also highlighted the effect of the closure of the Russian market, not only in direct sales, but through its effect on other markets to which displaced products are finding their way.

Minister urged to focus on pigmeat

Meat Industry Ireland (MII) is urging Minister Coveney to use next week's Agricultural Ministers council to push Commission to resolve technical issues with Russia.