The reasons behind the Russian ban on Irish offal and restrictions of other foods remain unclear, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The Department says it is engaging with the Russian authorities on the matter, after an audit of a number of Irish meat, dairy and fish processing plants against Russian requirements, saw the Russian authorities ban offal and restrict imports from 12 plants.
The announcement on the Rosselkhoznodzor website stated that:
– The 12 Irish plants recently inspected in the recent audit here will be temporarily restricted from 23 June;
– All imports of beef offal from Ireland will also be temporarily restricted from 23 June;
Yesterday, the Irish Embassy in Moscow received an interim report on the matter and is having this translated at present. At this point the reasons for these temporary restrictions are unclear.
The Department of Agriculture here has written to the Russian authorities supplying additional requested information and the Irish Ambassador in Moscow has raised these matters directly in a bilateral meeting with the Russian authorities.
The Department goes on to say that, once the detailed reasons for the temporary restrictions have been clarified, the Department will, with the relevant processors who wish to resume trade with Russia, take such steps as are necessary to resolve them as quickly as possible.
