The National Pig Association (NPA) has reported that while an “agreement” has been reached concerning a selective lifting by Russia of its January 2014 African swine fever (ASF) ban on pork from EU countries, the ban hasn’t yet been actually lifted.
“A positive meeting took place during International Green Week in Berlin last week and an ‘agreement’ has been reached,” states a report on the NPA website. “But more technical work is needed, according to the European Commission’s health and food safety department.”
The report also states what while Russia’s August embargo on pigmeat from NATO countries remains in place, the lifting of the Russian January 2014 ban, for countries not adjacent to ASF control regions, could pave the way for a resumption of exports of EU pork fat and trimmings, as these were not originally included in the August ban.
“If this happens,” continues the NPA report, “it could help remove the current fifth-quarter glut on the Continent.”