MOSCOW: Russia is imposing restrictions on the supply of buffalo meat from India as several cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been recorded in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state, a spokesperson for Russia’s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor told media.
“Rosselkhoznadzor has decided to limit buffalo meat deliveries from some Indian enterprises starting from June 22. The restrictions will apply to companies of the Uttar Pradesh state, where cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been registered,” the spokesperson said.
The foot-and-mouth viral disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, including water buffalo, and can be fatal.
A total of four Indian companies started to export buffalo meat to Russia earlier this year. Three of them are located in Uttar Pradesh.
India is one of the world’s largest meat suppliers, but Russia did not import any meat from the country before 2015.
In August 2014 Russia banned certain food imports from countries that had imposed sanctions against it over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.
In April 2015, Russia’s Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev expressed hope that the country would be able to substitute at least 90 percent of food imports with domestic products in the next 2-3 years.
