Canada to comply with Russia’s pork requirements
Canadian pork shippers will comply with Russia’s new zero tolerance requirements for the feed additive ractopamine in meat shipments, Canada Pork International said.
In a letter to Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control (Rosselhosnadzor), the industry group said that all Canadian pork exports destined for Russia are being tested to ensure they are free of ractopamine.
The tests are being conducted at one of three laboratories certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The government agency’s export certificates must now be accompanied by laboratory test results that show negative for ractopamine, report Jacques Pomerleau, executive director of Canada Pork International.
“Since the Russians are requiring those tests, it’s up to the companies to have the product tested and the results must be provided to CFIA so they can attach it to the certificates. We need to comply with the Russian requirement. Russia is a very big market for Canada,” he said.
Canada Pork sent the letter to VPSS to clarify the shippers’ position – there is a strong consensus to comply with the requirement. The CFIA itself has not changed its own procedures and tests for meat exports to Russia. Last week, Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said the government had made no change and had told Russia that Canada does not think its new requirement is based on science.
“Canadian officials, in contrast to Canadian business, have yet to express willingness to adhere to the requirements of Russia and the Customs Union to abandon the use of synthetic growth stimulators in the production of goods exported to Customs Union countries,” according to a Rosselhosnadzor statement.
