Russia bans EU cattle and pig imports
The Russian Federation has announced that it will block the import of live cattle and pigs from European Union states despite attempts by an EU delegation to prevent it. The ban took effect on Tuesday 20th March 2012 and has been described as 'temporary', although a date at which the ban will conclude has not been released.
The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance cited concerns over the spread of the Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) as justification for the ban, along with "the absence of sufficient safety controls... on the part of relevant European Commission services." A statement said that the EU now had to satisfy Russia that its imports of cattle and pigs satisfied safety requirements.
The ban is the latest in a series of trading disputes between Russia and the European Union, and has provoked great concern amongst countries that trade with Russia. Latvia, for example, stands to lose approximately two-thirds of its export revenues and has objected strongly to the ban.
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