Russia's Ractopamine Ruckus

Russia’s Ractopamine Ruckus. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

Thursday - Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said the U.S. will not accept Russia’s demand the U.S. certify pork and beef shipments are free of ractopamine. That restriction threatens to block U.S. exports. NPPC International Trade Counsel Nick Giordano says he expected the Secretary to respond the way he did. Giordano says ractopamine is safe and isn’t tested for in the U.S. - so it shouldn’t be tested in Russia either.

GIORDANO: It’s not just FDA’s word, the codex, the international organization that sets international standards has set a standard for ractopamine. It’s safe. 26 other governments have said the product is safe. It’s used widely. There’s not a single shred of evidence to substantiate Russia’s point that using the product might pose a safety issue.

Ractopamine is a drug that is used as a feed additive to promote leanness in animals raised for their meat and has been banned in the European Union, Taiwan, mainland China and of course Russia. Giordano says Russia has been difficult to deal with on trade issues for the past five years - and their recent actions are not all that surprising. He’s concerned about U.S. pork exports going forward.

GIORDANO: We’ve known that from the highest levels of the government there they targeted their pork industries as well as their poultry - really their meat and poultry complex for protection but this is really troubling because potentially Russia is compromising the concessions it gave in becoming a WTO member on meat and on pork. If they carry through with this it’s going to be a big problem for our exports.

Giordano says ractopamine is just the latest battle with the Russians - as there have been others in the past. He says NPPC will keep working with USDA and USTR to keep exports moving.

GIORDANO: We’ve had all sorts of other problems, non of which had any basis in science but it’s clear they’re going to do everything and anything to protect their industry. It’s unfortunate. We’re going to continue to work closely with the United States government to try and keep our exports moving to Russia.

Russia is one of the 10 largest importers of both U.S. pork and beef. Through the end of September - pork sales are up 14-percent - from September of 2011 - at 208-million dollars.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.