Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) said that it has imposed temporary restrictions on imports of Swiss cattle and small ruminants, as well as genetic material derived from them. In addition, transit of these products through Russia will be banned.
Rosselkhoznadzor said that the restrictions had been imposed as a result of cases of the Schmallenberg Virus in Switzerland. Under trade agreements in the region, similar restrictions will automatically come into force across the entire Customs Union.
The agency has also imposed restrictions on Dutch poultry as the result of an outbreak of avian influenza subtype H7N7.
“We have decided to limit the supply of live poultry, down and feathers, hatching eggs, poultry meat and all types of poultry products that have not undergone heat treatment (at least 70˚C), feeds and feed additives for poultry, as well as equipment used for the management, slaughter and butchering of poultry from the Dutch province Utrecht,” said a spokesperson.
According to the agency’s press service, Rosselkhoznadzor is also considering further restrictions to the import of live cattle from the EU to Russia and other members of the Custom Union.
“Rosselkhoznadzor is currently analysing import restrictions imposed by the US against live cattle from the EU because of the unfavourable epizootic situation in some EU countries,” said Rosselhoznadzor press-secretary Aleksei Alekseenko.
“In particular, this relates to the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle. If we find that the restrictions imposed by the US are based on science, Russia will also take the necessary measures.”