Russia is to lift partial restrictions on importing meat products from outside the sanction list for six European countries, according to reports.

Global Meat News report that an agreement was reached between Russian and EU officials at the international Green Week exhibition in Berlin to lift restrictions for France, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.

The acting head of the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission, Sergei Dankvert, said that they are starting to create a schedule for inspections for meat production companies in the six countries which will resume exports to Russia first following the abolition of the food embargo and ASF related veterinary restrictions.

However, he said that only pork producers with the highest level of bioloigical protection will be allowed to supply pork products to the Russian market.

However a spokesperson for the Russian veterinary body, Rosselkhoznadzor, said that Russia is not ready yet to lift the ban on agricultural products and food from the EU. It went on to say that if the EC demands that Russia opens its market to all pork products it won't open for the six countries.

EU Commission

Speaking at the EU Commission this week, Ag Commissioner Phil Hogan shot down calls to introduce Private Storage Aid for pigmeat.

He said there was an oversupply in the EU market at the end of 2014 and added that 77% of products are now absorbed in new market outlets such as South Korea and the Philippines.

“Much of the volumes previously exported to Russia have found markets in China (increase in exports +5%), Philippines (+100%), South Korea (+109%) & Japan (+34%)”, he said.

Irish pigmeat

Nearly a quarter of all European pigmeat is exported to Russia. The Russian market was an important one for the Irish pigmeat industry. In 2013, Ireland exported 20,165 tonnes of pork and pigmeat to Russia with a value €55m. This was up from 15,057 tonnes (€39m) in 2012.

Pigmeat exports rose 3% to €570m in 2014, despite a 4% drop in price.pig prices have fallen by 42c/kg since July 2014.

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