World meat industry news

Russia will start exporting frozen poultry and dairy products to China, following the trade agreement recently reached by the two countries.

After several years of negotiations between the authorities from the two countries, Russian poultry producers will be able to launch their exports to China by the end of this year.

On November 7, Russia's agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor and the General Administration of the People's Republic of China have signed protocols on mutual deliveries of frozen poultry and dairy products. Rosselkhoznadzor considers this "an important and long-awaited step on the path of building mutually beneficial and most efficient trade and economic relations between the two countries".

Rosselkhoznadzor announced that poultry products, including edible offals, such as chicken hearts, liver, kidneys, stomachs and heads, as well as skin, wings, paws, cartilage, will be allowed to be exported frozen, provided that they meet the veterinary and sanitary requirements of Russia, EAEU and China.

Furthermore, the Russian agency added that all shipments will be subject to quarantine requirements for avian influenza in accordance with the biological safety management system.

Russia began its trade mission to ensure the approval of frozen poultry exports to China in 2014.

According to Reuters, after the Western countries imposed sanctions on Russia over the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, Russian producers have started to increase their production. Sergei Yushin, President of the Russian Meat Association, told Reuters that the opening of the Chinese market represents a great opportunity for the Russian poultry producers to expand production as it has been stagnating because of the export bans introduced by Japan, South Korea and Europe on Russian products.