Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor, may impose restrictions on meat imports from Brazil if its veterinary service fails to inspect as soon as possible Brazilian plants supplying meat and poultry to Russia, the watchdog said in a statement yesterday (18 August).

RIA Novosti reports that Rosselkhoznadzor says it has already sent a second necessary official notification to the Brazilian government.

In October 2009, the National Veterinary Service of Brazil guaranteed that all the veterinary and sanitary requirements of the Russian legislation would be fully met during the export of animal products to Russia.

A statement from Rosselkhoznadzor read: 'Rosselkhoznadzor expresses deep concern over the absence of a response to the previous letter concerning the coordination of the inspection terms sent to the Veterinary Service of Brazil at the beginning of June this year.'

Before inspections at Brazilian plants are launched, Rosselkhoznadzor has tightened the monitoring of meat products from Brazil to the Russian market, it said.