World meat industry news

Russia is restricting trade in agricultural products from Turkey, including stopping imports of poultry products from one of Turkey's biggest poultry exporters.

The news comes just days after a Russian plane was shot down in the Middle East.

The loss of the plane has led to a decline in relations between the two countries, with more restrictive trade measures due to be announced after the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev instructed ministries to prepare proposals for restrictive measures.

Russian media reported that the country's veterinary service Rosselkhoznadzor has banned poultry supplies from a Turkish company in connection with Listeria found in products. Restrictions are introduced against the company Standart Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, the regulator said.

Sixteen Turkish companies have the right to supply poultry to Russia, TASS Russian news agency reported. Six of them have been subjected to temporary restrictions and products of one more supplier is now under stronger supervision.

Russia's Minister of Agriculture, Alexander Tkachev, said: "I have informed the government of the Russian Federation that, unfortunately, on average, 15 per cent of Turkish agricultural products does not comply with Russian standards.

"Given the repeated violations of the rules of Turkish manufacturers, Russian Government instructed Rosselkhoznadzor put on strict control of delivery of agricultural products and food from Turkey, as well as arrange additional checks at the border and in places of production directly to the Republic of Turkey," Mr Tkachev said.

In 2014 imports of agricultural products and foodstuffs from Turkey amounted to 1.764 billion US dollars, while its share in total Russian food imports was 4.3 per cent.