Russia-More changes to meat import quota.

RUSSIA- CHANGES TO QUOTA AND DUTY ON MEAT.

The Russian Government issued a resolution at the end of last year covers changes to quotas and duties on imported beef, pork and poultry meat, reports the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

The USDA has examined the issue in a GAIN Report subtitled Import Poultry and Meat Duties and Volumes Changed for 2009.

According to the analysis, the Russian Government issued a Resolution #918 on temporary import duties for certain varieties of beef, pork and poultry meat. Duties were sharply increased on imports of pork and poultry meat that exceed the tariff rate quotas in 2009, but lowered the duty on over quota beef imports.

Meat market experts worry that growth of over quota duties on pork and poultry in combination with reduction of poultry TRQ volume may result in an increase in the retail prices of meat and poultry in Russia and reduce its availability for consumers.

The main problem appears to be shortage of funds with which to purchase meat, there are exporters in Argentina and Brazil that still have meat in Russian cold stores from November and December that is not paid for.