Russia has announced that effective Feb. 11, it will initiate a ban on all imports of U.S. beef and pork chilled and frozen products if the animals received the feed additive ractopamine.

P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

February 4, 2013

1 Min Read
Russia Bans U.S. Beef and Pork Over Ractopamine

Russia has announced that effective Feb. 11, it will initiate a ban on all imports of U.S. beef and pork chilled and frozen products if the animals received the feed additive ractopamine. Earlier this year, Russia declared that U.S. beef and pork exports must be tested and certified free of ractopamine. A USDA spokesperson said, “These actions threaten to undermine our bilateral trade relationship. They are not consistent with international standards and appear to be inconsistent with Russia’s World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments.” USDA also called on Russia to “suspend these unjustified measures and restore market access for U.S. beef and pork products.” The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) estimates that the United States exported $203.7 million in beef and $202.9 million in pork products to Russia during the first nine months of 2012. Last summer, the international body, the World Health Organization’s Codex Alimentarius, approved ractopamine use.

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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