Russia Poultry Update

Poultry production in Russia rose 15% in 2007 and is projected to increase 10% in 2008 despite declining profitability in poultry production, due to rising input costs. Domestic turkey production is expected to increase 25% in 2008. Poultry meat consumption is forecast to grow 5% in 2008 as disposable incomes are increasing.

Russia is struggling to achieve balance between protecting domestic poultry producers and protecting consumers from rising food prices. In response, the Russian Poultry Union has demanded more support from the government in controlling grain prices and more protection from imports, even going as far as to ask the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) to impose an import duty on poultry that is 4 times higher than the current rate. On April 16, 2008 MEDT released the remaining 75% of the 2008 poultry tariff rate quota of which the US was allotted 901,400 MT for poultry. The 2008 poultry TRQ was based on the 2007 TRQ volume proportional to the average volume of poultry imported in 2005 and 2006. New companies that began importing in 2007 also received TRQ distribution in 2008.

According to GAIN Report RS8007, Russian Federal Customs Service published order No. 1642 extending the implementation date of the revised list of approved entry points authorized to handle meat imports to April 17, 2008. Many ports in the Russian Far East Customs Directorate and the North West Customs Directorate are currently missing from the list of approved entry points and are seeking inclusion. These ports handle more than 85% of Russian meat imports. It is hoped the 2 month extension will allow officials from both directorates to take the necessary actions to get their entry points added to the list.

On April 11, 2008 Russia reported 22 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in 6 of its federal subjects to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE). The outbreaks occurred in the following federal subjects: Krasnodarskiy Kray, Kaluzhskaya Oblast, Moskovskaya Oblast, Respublika Adygeya, Rostovskaya Oblast, and Primorskiy Kray. The last reported occurrence of HPAI in Russia was in August 2006. Control measures are being taken. According to OIE, 252,300 birds were destroyed, 44,295 birds died, and 729,688 birds were deemed susceptible. Birds affected include backyard poultry, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, pigeons, and layer and replacement chickens.

Russian export requirements for US poultry were recently changed May 2, 2008. According to USDA FSIS, fresh or frozen poultry meat derived from birds raised or processed in the State of North Carolina and slaughtered on or after May 3, 2008, is ineligible. Meat derived from birds slaughtered prior to May 3, 2008 is eligible. In addition, Russia also updated its list of eligible US plants to export poultry May 8, 2008.

Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service/USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Library of Exports/OIE/Promed/Various News Wires

Further Reading

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