Russia is set to impose new restrictions on its meat imports, which are expected to be related to concerns over use of the feed additive ractopamine in Canadian livestock. Russia has restricted the import of Canadian meats that contain the additive since December and is anticipated to tighten the regulations further, reports The Globe and Mail.
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says that the new restrictions will likely exclude all Canadian beef from entering Russia. John Masswohl, the group’s director of government and international relations, said he believes that Russia will only allow the import of meat that has been certified to be without additives at a Canadian plant that does not use any ractopamine-laced feed. Masswohl says such a plant does not exist.