The reports indicate that the Federal Consumer Protection Service has issued an order to bring in the ban, which is currently being checked by the Justice Ministry.

The banning order would come into force if the Justice Ministry finds it does not break and regulations and endorses it.

However, it has raised concerns in the meat industry that it would mean a block on meat imports which generally comes into Russia in frozen form.

Russia imports about 30 per cent of its pork and beef and 40 per cent of its poultry meat under tariff quotas.