Russia is suspending meat imports from Moldova starting today (Monday) because of a suspicion that some imports from Moldova might originate from other countries.


The ban was announced by the chief of the Russian Federal Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Monitoring Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) Sergei Dankvert, according to a report from the Interfax news agency.


The ban covers beef, pork, lamb, and poultry, as well as meat byproducts, and will remain in force “until the current situation becomes clearer,” Dankvert said.


Rosselkhoznadzor has recently received bids for importing meat from Moldova to Russia in quantities that significantly exceed meat production in that country, which might mean that Moldova is used for meat re-export from third countries, Dankvert said. This raised fears that infections could be introduced, and therefore Russia decided to suspend meat exports from Moldova to clarify the situation, he said.