MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Russia partially lifts ban on Brazilian beef and pork

Russia lifted the ban on beef and pork imports from six Brazilian states which means the ban remains on only two states, reported Tuesday in Moscow the Russian Ministry of Agriculture.

The release indicates that Russian importers can again operate with beef and pork from Acre, Rondonia, Tocantins, Maranhao, Amapá y Roraima. Only Para and Amazonas remain in the ban list imposed September 2004 on all types of meat from Brazil.

On that date Russia imposed the ban following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in an Amazon River island farm, 28 miles away from Manaos, capital of Amazonas state.

Last February 7, Russia also lifted the ban on Brazilian poultry with the exception of the states of Para and Amazonas.

According to the Russian Agriculture Market Institute before the September 2004 ban, Brazil was Russia's main supplier of beef (35%) and pork (74%), and the second of broilers (with a 26% market share).