Lithuania expects Russia to lift restrictions on pork
Lithuania is expecting that at the beginning of May Russia will partially lift restrictions on imports of some categories of pork products from the country, according to local officials.
In particular, the Head of the Lithuanian Veterinary and Food Service Jonas Milius said that after 5 May, the Baltic countries will be visited by Russian inspectors who will decide if the local pork products are safe. The restrictions have been implemented due to several outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) among wild boars in two districts of Lithuania.
However, local pig business insists that ban on heat-treated pork products is senseless as the ASF virus can not survive the heat treating.
“I also hope that Russia would look favourably on measures we have taken to prevent the spread of the virus,” said Milius.
According to Milius, Lithuania also expects that in the near future Russia will withdraw the restrictions on delivery of frozen products including pork going via the largest terminal in the country – Klaipeda sea port.
“We hope that in the near future we will be able to open freezers again, and to restart exports supplies and Russia will no longer have such issues,” said Milius.
Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said it is considering the possibility of lifting restrictions on exports of pork products from Lithuania and Poland. The Russian office also informed colleagues in these countries that over the next two months it plans to inspect local pork producers and make a final decision based on the results of these inspections.
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