Russian importers of pork will be able to shift to other countries

African swine fever (ASF) was detected in Lithuania and the limitation in connection with this supply of pork from the EU to Russia provoked a strong reaction from the European community.

Rosselkhoznadzor RF measures adopted European experts last week called disproportionate and stated his intention to appeal to the WTO , according to Interfax -West .

Russian meat business decision support Rosselkhoznadzor looking for new markets and supply of pork . A Lithuanian manufacturers breeding pigs count losses . According to foreign sources , EU exports to Russia 500 tons of pork , accounting for 30 % of total meat exports .

As the general director of the National Swine Union Yuri Kovalev , Russian importers will be able to shift to other countries , in particular, on the American continent . " Up to 30 % of the supply of pork falling due to an outbreak of African swine fever in the European Union , can be replaced by products from Brazil , USA, Canada or Chile, " - he said .

In addition, he predicted , domestic pork production will increase by 150 thousand tons. "Thus, with a further increase in poultry production that will provide the necessary amount of processors of raw materials " - says Yu.Kovalev .

Readiness Russian Poultry Breeders meet growth of demand for poultry meat and increase its supply in retail and in the meat-processing plants , and CEO, said the Russian Poultry Union Galina Bobyleva . " We can easily increase the supply of raw materials for meat processing plants , from which the consumer will benefit ," - she said , explaining that " most European lard was to reduce the price of products to the detriment of its consumer properties ».

In addition, increased demand for domestic meat will have a stimulating effect on the development of poultry production and processing , said G. Bobyleva .

According to Rosstat, Russia in 2013 increased the production of pigs ( for slaughter in live weight) of 24.7% . Pigs share in the total production of livestock and poultry rose to 29.7% against 28.3% in 2012 . Poultry production increased by 6.1%. Birds share reached 42 % against 41.8% in 2012 . While deliveries of meat from abroad fall . In particular, imports of pork, according to preliminary data , decreased by 16 % , poultry - by 5 %.

« biosafety - a matter of life and death for the domestic livestock in the rapid spread of the world a whole bunch of viruses - the head of the executive committee of the National Meat Association Sergey Yushin . - Here is an unacceptable compromise , since a number of diseases are equally dangerous, and sometimes fatal , for animals and humans . " According to him, it is necessary to prevent the slightest possibility of introduction of ASF on the territory of the Customs Union of the European Union or any other country in the world .

meat industry representatives pointed out that the EU takes decades extremely tough position , completely banning the import into their territories of pork from countries where ASF was recorded or observed other dangerous animal diseases .

Thus , the ban on exports from Brazil was introduced in connection with African swine fever in 1978 at 30 years. Brazil last ten years made ​​constant attempts to remove restrictions with at least one state of Santa Catarina, but never succeeded .

Exports of Russian pig sector in the European Union also banned from the entire territory of Russia .

Anticipating the price situation on the Russian pork market , S. Yushin said that " a small correction in the meat did not even reach the level of summer 2012 ." " Then the prices were 20 - 25% higher than the current " - he recalled . According to him, the price of pork exports from Brazil and Canada are comparable or even lower than in Europe , which together with the expected increase in domestic industrial production will protect the Russian market from surges .

According to Russian breeders , comprehensive measures , including refusing entry into the European pork Russia to fully clarify the situation and to obtain comprehensive guarantees product safety - a necessary condition in order to prevent the reintroduction of the virus from the outside .