Interfax reported yesterday that the Russian government will consider raising the duty for off-quota poultry imports up to 90 per cent. At a discussion on the domestic grain situation yesterday in Krasnador, First Vice-Premier Viktor Zubkov said, "We have discussed an opportunity to raise off-quota poultry imports to around 90 per cent."

Representatives of the Russian Poultry Union complained that cheap imported poultry was hampering domestic production.

Mr Zubkov assured them that he understood their situation, saying "The price for imported poultry after customs clearance is 46 rubles per kilogramme, while the cost of Russian poultry is 63 rubles per kilogram.

He added that he had met with Vice-Premier Alexei Kudrin and handed him the necessary documents, and that Mr Kudrin had agreed.

The issue will be examined during a session on improving co-operation between agricultural producers, food processing enterprises and major trade networks, Mr Zubkov said.

Currently, duty is set at 60 per cent or no less than €0.48 per kilogramme, according to the Interfax report.