Deputy head of the Rosselkhoznador Yevgeny Nepoklonov notified Assistant Administrator for the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service Dr Ronald Jones in his letter that enhanced laboratory control revealed ractopamine in frozen pork imported to Russia from the USA produced by a John Morrell plant.

The Rosselkhoznador official said that this was a violation of the veterinary and sanitary requirements of the Customs Union and Russia.

Mr Nepoklonov drew special attention to the fact that the Rosselkhoznador had earlier imposed enhanced laboratory control over products from the same John Morrell because of the detection of ractopamine.

Taking into account these circumstances Rosselkhoznador said it considered it necessary to impose temporary restrictions on import of products from the John Morrell plant to Russia.

Mr Nepoklonov also wrote a letter to Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada Dr Ian Alexander saying that laboratory tests carried out within monitoring of banned substances in meat products imported to Russia from Canada revealed ractopamine in frozen pork produced by plants run by Fearmans Pork Inc, Maple Leaf Foods Inc, Great Lakes Specialty Meats of Canada Inc and Atrahan Transformation Inc.

Laboratory tests carried out within the enhanced laboratory control revealed ractopamine in frozen pork imported from an Aliments Asta Inc plant) and a Quality Meat Packers Ltd plant.

The veterinary authority said that Rosselkhoznador had enhanced laboratory control over the products before because of the detection of ractopamine.

Rosselkhoznadzor has impose temporary restrictions on import of products from the Canadian Plant of Aliments Asta Inc and Quality Meat Packers Ltd.

Because of the violations by the Maple Leaf Foods Inc, Great Lakes Specialty Meats of Canada Inc, Atrahan Transformation Inc and Fearmans Pork Inc plants was a first violation the Rosselkhoznadzor has enhanced laboratory control over products from these plants.

If there are further breeches of the regulations, Rosselkhoznador said it will have to impose temporary restrictions on import of these products to Russia.

Mr Nepoklonov also wrote to Secretary for Agricultural Defense of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) of Brazil Enio Antonio Marques Pereira to say that laboratory tests carried out within enhanced laboratory control revealed ractopamine in frozen pork produced by plants of SEARA ALIMENTOS LTDA and SADIA S.A.

Because these were initial breeches of the regulations, Rosselkhoznador has stepped up its testing of products from these plants and has waned them that further breeches will mean a ban on the import of products.