Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has signed a resolution approving quotas for pork, beef and poultry meat imports in 2005, according to the government press service.
This year Russia can import 467,400 tonnes of pork, including 236,000 tonnes from EU countries, 53,800 tonnes from the USA; 1,000 from Paraguay and 176,600 tonnes from other countries. The quotas for 2005 are higher than last year. As regards poultry meat, the import quota for 2005 is 1,050,000 tonnes with the USA able to export 771.900 tonnes, the EU 205,000 tonnes, Paraguay 5,000 tonnes and others 68,100 tonnes.
Importers are allowed to bring in 430,000 tonnes of frozen beef, including 339,700 tonnes from EU countries, 17,700 tonnes from the USA, 3,000 from Paraguay and 69,600 tonnes from other countries. The fixed quota for refrigerated meat is 27,500 tonnes, 27,000 of which will come from the EU.
Russia plans to preserve meat import quotas until 2009, a measure first adopted in 2003 to support Russian producers. In 2004 the quota contributed to the production of poultry meat but also led to the growth of prices for beef and pork. Overall, the production of meat in Russia rose by a quarter in the last two years.
