Chile poultry and pork discussed in trade mission to Russia

Rogrigo Castanion, general manager of the Chilean Pork Producers Association and Chilean Poultry Producers Association, made an official visit to the Russian Federation. The visit, conducted on September 11, was aimed at holding discussions on assuring the safety of animal products intended for export to Russia.
Russia has recently expanded its talks with Latin American nations, after imposing a ban on food products from the United States, Canada, European Union, Australia and Norway.
The Russian-Chilean negotiations were held at the Leningrad Interoblast Veterinary Laboratory (FGBI) and subordinated to the Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian federal service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance.
Julia Shvabauskene, head of the Rosselkhoznadzor Territorial Administration for St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, and  Antonina Brovkina, director of the FGBI. During the meeting, leading experts of the Rosselkhoznadzor FGBI and members of the Chilean delegation discussed the structural features of the veterinary surveillance system in the Russian Federation and rules of regulated consignment electronic certification. In addition, the possible increase in export of Chilean food products to the Russian Federation was discussed. The Rosselkhoznadzor and FGBI experts informed foreign guests about the procedure for federal monitoring laboratory testing of imported products and answered numerous questions on sampling procedure, quality standards and indicators for imported products laid down in the Russian Federation legislation.
At the Shushary Veterinary Inspection Post, located in the temporary storage warehouse near St. Petersburg, experts of the  Rosselkhoznadzor territorial administration explained to the Chilean colleagues the procedures for physical and documentary checks of imported consignments and described animal health requirements for products imported to Russia from third countries as well as demonstrated step- by-step an operation of Argus and Mercury electronic certification systems for regulated consignments.
At the end of his visit to St Petersburg, Castanion thanked the Russian party representatives for hosting and marked their high professional levels and expressed his hope for further mutually beneficial cooperation.

Russia halts poultry imports from Czech Republic

The Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, has imposed temporary restrictions on import of poultry products from the Czech Republic.
The ban includes live poultry, hatching eggs, feathers, poultry meat and all kinds of poultry products, feeds and feed additives for poultry as well as used equipment for poultry management, slaughter and cutting due to the Newcastle disease outbreak in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic.
In early January, Belarus imposed a similar ban on Czech poultry products for the same reason.
Newcastle disease is a highly contagious bird disease affecting domestic and wild avian species. It causes mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms. The mortality rate among young birds is almost 100 percent, and the few birds who survive the disease do not grow well. The disease can be transmitted to humans.

Russia poultry imports up 38 percent in first half 2012

Russia's poultry imports were up 38.7 percent by volume, to 270,500 metric tons, in the first half of 2012 when compared to 2011's 195,000 metric tons, according to reports.
Imports of poultry meat have already doubled compared to the volume initially forecasted by the Russian Union of poultry farmers. Some experts have said there is a risk of production excess in the domestic market in 2013, which may result in a collapse in prices.
The industry said that it is necessary to establish poultry meat export supplies to maintain a balance. "We need to give clear guidance to businesses throughout the supply chain that the government is aware of how the agri-food market is developing, including through exports," said Alexander Korbut, vice president of the Russian Grain Union. "Exports are not an end in themselves, but they are the mechanism for obtaining high and stable income for the manufacturers. Russia could sell poultry and pork abroad, about 200,000 metric tons annually [for both products]. We can also produce halal products from poultry and beef, which are very interesting for Middle East countries."

Russia poultry imports rise 1% through October 2011

Russia’s poultry imports rose 1% in the first 10 months of 2011, to 371,000 metric tons, according to the Federal State Statistics Service.
The number was part of the country’s overall rise in fresh and frozen meat imports through October, which increased by 3.2% to 1.2 million metric tons over 2010 numbers. Pork imports were 5.8% higher, at 597,000 metric tons, according to reports. 

Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan set 2012 poultry import quotas

The Customs Union Commission of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan has set the countries' poultry import quotas for 2012. Russia's limits are set at 70,000 tons of boneless frozen chicken, 250,000 tons of frozen chicken parts and 10,000 tons of frozen boneless turkey meat. Belarus has a quota of 15,000 tons of poultry and its products. Kazakhstan's 2012 poultry limit has been set at 110,000 tons of poultry and its products, according to the commission. 

Russia drafts 2012 poultry import quotas

Russia's 2012 import plans include 250,000 metric tons of poultry and 80,000 metric tons of deboned poultry meat, according to the country's Economy Ministry's drafted proposal.
As for other meat, pork quotas are drafted at roughly 320,000 metric tons, while pork trimming products are at 30,000 metric tons. Frozen beef import quotas may be set at 530,000 metric tons, with fresh and chilled beef at 30,000 metric tons, according to the proposal.

Russia allows poultry imports from Pilgrim's, Sanderson

Russia is now allowing poultry imports from a Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. plant in Douglas, Ga., and a Sanderson Farms Inc. plant in Collins, Miss., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Russia also will allow shipments from House Of Raeford Farms Inc. in Raeford, N.C.; Claxton Poultry Farms in Claxton, Ga.; Wayne Farms in Jack, Ala.; VersaCold Logistics Services in Mobile, Ala.; and Millard Refrigerated Services in Statesville, N.C., said the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Russia approves 2011 poultry tariff-rate quota of 350K metric tons

Russia’s Customs Union Commission approved a tariff-rate quota of 350,000 metric tons for poultry for 2011, according to published reports. A Bureau of National Affairs report from Moscow was cited, in which there were no country-specific allocations.
TRQ reportedly includes frozen, deboned chicken meat, frozen bone-in chicken halves or quarters, frozen bone-in legs and parts thereof and frozen deboned turkey meat. Whole-carcass poultry was not included, as it has been previously -- a positive note for U.S. exports.
Learn more about the Russia poultry outlook for 2011 in an exclusive WATT interview, in which Russia trade experts talk with WATT PoultryUSA about U.S.-Russia poultry trade and the development of the Russian poultry industry. Watch the video / listen to the podcast.

Russia may not import poultry meat in 2011

According to Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, “from 2011 onwards Russia can survive without chicken meat imports”. The declaration was made during the Liberal-Democrat Party meeting, when the Russian budgets for 2011 and for 2012-2013 were discussed. As reported by Ria Novosti and Itar Tass news agency, Putin has remarked the Russian chicken meat production is now able to guaranteeing the country’s self-sufficiency, thus making imports unnecessary.

Still according to Ria Novosti, Putin reminded that over the last few years the domestic chicken meat production grew in excess of 70% while pork production grew 39%, “what represents a significant growth under any economy’s stand point and for the entire agribusiness sector, as well”. To make clear the country has reached its self-sufficiency, Putin remarked that “till recently Russia used to import 1.5 million MT of chicken meat from US annually” and complemented saying that “in 2010 the imports will barely reach 300 thousand MT”.

Tyson CEO: ‘Believe the Russians, diversify’ on chicken self-sufficiency

The industry should believe the Russians' desire for poultry self-sufficiency, said Donnie Smith, Tyson Foods president and CEO.

The CEO of the largest U.S. chicken company challenged his industry to stop depending so heavily on Russia as a market for chicken leg quarters and pick up the pace in diversifying markets and products for chicken dark meat.
Tyson Foods president and CEO Donnie Smith said, “I think the lesson we need to learn, as an industry, is to start believing the Russians when they say they want to be self-sufficient in poultry.”
He was responding to a question about what lessons the U.S. chicken industry should learn from a stoppage of U.S. chicken exports to Russia during the first nine months of 2010.
International and domestic diversification needed 
Smith said the U.S. chicken industry made progress recently in diversifying its customer mix around the world but needs more diversification internationally and domestically.
“We’ve been talking about and doing that diversification for years, and we had better listen to ourselves and continue to get that done,” he said.
“Three years ago, the U.S. chicken quota for chicken exports to Russia was around 900 million metric tons, and we’re looking at 450 million metric tons now,” he said.
Listen online 
Hear a podcast of Smith’s comments and those of four other poultry industry executives in a question-and-answer session, which occurred at the National Chicken Council (NCC) annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The podcast is accessible online.
Also participating in the panel were Don Jackson, CEO, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation; Mike Roberts, president, food products business, Perdue Farms; and Bill Lovette, president and COO, Case Foods.
The panelists discussed industry opportunities and challenges ranging from industry profitability and consolidation to proposed regulation under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).
Video interviews with panelists Don Jackson, Mike Roberts and Bill Lovette can also be viewed online.

Russia halts meats imports from JBS’ plants

Russia halted beef and chicken meat imports from several plants in Brazil, including JBS’. The informations are available at the website of the Russian sanitary agency (www.fsvps.ru), Rosselkhoznadzor.
The site informed the prohibition is effective as of September 8, 2010 for three JBS’ plants in Brazil, after oxytetraciclyne residues and bacterias were detected in the products, and for one plant in Argentina, also tested positive for oxytetraciclyne.
Brazil has the Russian approval for 126 beef, 104 chicken and 62 pork plants. A leading meat importer, Russia, uses to block the meat imports from their suppliers in the event of any relevant sanitary problems in the country of origin of the products and/or when the products are tested positive for drugs or foreign residues. Usually the imports are resumed once the problems are solved.