MEXICO CITY — The lion's share of Mexico's beef exports to Russia will not be blocked by a Russian ban on meat imports it fears may contain traces of the feed additive ractopamine, according to an official advisory received by the Mexicans.
Russia had warned it would only import beef from five of the 25 processing plants from which it had previously bought, and from two of the four horse meat plants, said Enrique Sanchez, the head of Mexico's agricultural safety agency Senasica.
However those five beef plants account for about 80 percent of Mexico's beef exports to Russia, Sanchez said.
Officials from both countries will now meet next week to try to defuse the spat, he added.
"This morning they sent us a report with their observations, and of course we don't agree," Sanchez said Wednesday, adding that the Mexican beef industry does not use the additive.
Last week Russia announced plans to ban meat imports from most Canadian and Mexican suppliers as it seeks to outlaw meat reared on ractopamine.
The growth stimulant is used to make meat leaner, but is banned in some countries on concerns that residues could remain in the meat and cause health problems, despite scientific evidence indicating that it is safe.
Mexico, which according to official data sent 25 tons of beef and 7.7 tons of horse meat to Russia in 2012, makes up 5 percent of Russia's meat imports.
In total, Mexican meat exports to Russia were worth $251 million last year, according to official data.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
