Russia reduced the number of Canadian beef and pork suppliers authorized to export product to Russia on concerns about ractopamine residues, according to the country’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor.
Yevgeny Nepoklonov, deputy head of the agency, informed the Canadian government of its decision to reduce the list of eligible suppliers to 14 pork processing plants, three beef processing plants and one plant producing both beef and pork products. Rosselkhoznadzor said the Canadian Veterinary Service must issue certificates "solely and exclusively" for products manufactured without the use of ractopamine.
A ban on chilled meat began Feb. 4, followed by a ban on frozen meat exports and turkey which began Feb. 11. The United Nations has ruled that ractopamine in meat is not a health hazard at low levels, but the feed additive is banned in several countries.
