Prague – Exporters of Czech pigs, genetic material from pigs and some pork products can once again export to Russia. This was stated by a spokesman for the State Veterinary Administration, Petr Vorlíček.

Russia officially imposed a ban on the import of hogs and live pigs in 2012 due to the occurrence of African swine fever in several EU countries. The European Union opposed the move, and the import ban ended last week following a World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitration panel decision. The repeal will help some businesses.

Almost nothing will change in a high volume store. According to a letter from the Czech Embassy in Russia, available to ČTK, Russia has included fat and live (non-breed) pigs on its embargoed list of foods that cannot be brought into the country due to EU sanctions due to Crimea. .

However, some commodities have yet to be added to the sanctions list, which may help some Czech companies. According to the embassy, ​​companies that export broodstock semen, live broodstock and some canned meat could stand a chance.

Veterinarians evaluated the end of the ban positively. “The continued import of breeding pigs, genetic material and canned pigs to Russia is positive news especially for our exporters and breeders.

Therefore, certain export restrictions will remain in relation to the Zlín region, where we are currently dealing with African swine fever in wild boars,” said Zbyněk Semerád, center director of the State Animal Administration.

The end of the ban was welcomed, for example by the company Hamé, which cannot export, for example, premium meat products. “According to my information, at the moment, all that remains is to ensure that the ban is completely lifted and therefore applies to all segments of food, including, for example, meat-based formulas,” said ČTK spokesman Hamé Petr Kopáček.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, total agricultural exports from the Czech Republic to Russia were valued at 2.45 billion crowns in 2013, and 2.96 billion crowns a year later. In 2015, it fell to 2.35 billion crowns, and last year to 2.56 billion crowns. This year, over three quarters, exports represented 1.9 billion crowns, similar to last year for the same time period.

Czechs are not allowed to bring dairy products into Russia, vegetables, poultry or fish are also on the sanctions list. As stated by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture some time ago, Russian people are increasingly interested in agricultural technologies, for example fish farming. The export potential is in the provision of genetic resources or hops and beer.