Russia-Meat ban on Spain.

Spain said on Monday that Russia’s pork import ban was unjustified because eating pork does not spread a deadly flu virus and the government had been working on a diplomatic solution.

Russia on Monday extended its ban on pork imports from some Canadian provinces and Spain and on meat imports from South Carolina over fears about the spread of the flu virus from Mexico. [ID:nL4525027]

"Closing borders to pork can at no time be justified due to the flu, which as we know has changed its name so as not to confuse consumers," Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Elena Espinosa said in comments received by email.

Trade Ministry data show Spain exported 70,000 tonnes of pork to Russia, compared with 828,000 worldwide, and 32,600 tonnes of live pigs out of total world sales of of 142,700.

Exchange prices for pork were unchanged and industry sources said it was too soon to tell whether news of the flu outbreak had scared retail buyers.

"The impact remains to be seen this week, when butchers renew their orders," said a report from the Mercolleida exchange.