Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food

Trader Notice MH 06/2008

To: All Poultry Meat Establishments

Subject: Russian Federation proposing to ban import of frozen poultry products

The EU Commission has advised the Department that the Russian Federation proposes to introduce new regulations that effectively ban imports of frozen poultry meat for further processing. The time frame for the adoption of the measure could be extremely rapid - adoption by the Duma already this week (w/e 9 May 2008) and by the Russian Government on May 12.

The most recent available information is that the following will be included under the new regulations:

Prohibited

  • Anti-microbial substances based on chlorine may not be used during the technological process of chilling poultry carcasses.
  • The production of poultry meat products and sub-products from frozen and deep frozen raw materials is prohibited.
  • The Calcium content in mechanically separated poultry meat must not exceed 0.26% and the bone particles may not exceed 0.6%.
  • The temperature of chilled poultry carcasses, their cuts and sub-products must not exceed 4 C when chilled, -8 C when frozen and -18C when deep-frozen.
  • It is not permitted to repeatedly freeze poultry meat (carcasses and their cuts) and sub-products.
  • The addition of ingredients including water is not permitted when producing poultry meat (carcasses and their cuts).
  • The total amount of water resulting from the defrosting of poultry meat must not exceed 4%.
  • The use of growth promoters (including hormones), medicines (including antibiotics) in the feeding, treatment and prevention of diseases in poultry must be controlled.
  • The use of frozen and deep frozen poultry meat (carcasses and their cuts) and sub-products will be prohibited for the production of canned poultry meat products, sausages and culinary products consisting of poultry meat.

Permitted

  • The commercial sale of chilled, frozen and deep frozen poultry meat (carcasses and their cuts), sub-products is permitted.
  • Chilled poultrymeat may be used for the production of food products.
  • The use of chilled poultry meat (carcasses and their cuts), sub-products and mechanically separated poultry meat is permitted in the production of chilled and frozen semi-fabricated products.
  • Chilled raw materials with a maximum shelf life of 3 days must be used for the production of canned poultry meat products.

All poultry food business operators are advised to be aware of the possible impact of the new regulations on existing and future exports to the Russian Federation.

Paul Mc Kiernan

Meat Hygiene

9th May 2008