Russia is set to impose ban on the imports of meat and meat products beginning 11 February over the concerns that they may contain ractopamine, a drug used in animal feed to promote leanness in cattle and hogs.
Russia's animal and plant health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor noted that the decision has been made in response to the US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) failed attempt to guarantee that shipments would be free of the additive.
Ractopamine is banned in 160 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, China and the European Union.
Rosselkhoznadzor head Sergei Dankvert was quoted by Interfax new agency as saying that they could still discover the traces of ractopamine in meat supplied by the US, and as a result Russia decided to stop all imports.
The decision is expected to affect most of the annual US meat exports to Russia worth $500m.
Earlier this month, Rosselkhoznadzor announced its decision to ban chilled beef, pork and poultry from Germany beginning 4 February.
