Canada’s pork industry once again has full access to the Russian market.
Russia recently announced it was removing the final pork import restrictions imposed several months ago because of fears that pigs or pork transmit the H1N1 flu virus.
Ontario exporters now will be able to sell pork from the province produced before May 15 and after July 18.
Trade minister Stockwell Day and agriculture minister Gerry Ritz had lobbied vigorously to have the ban lifted.
In late June, Day met with senior Russian politicians to insist that they base their trade rules on science.
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Officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency briefed Russian food safety officials on the safety of Canadian pork and the lack of a link between the product and the flu.
Russia quickly removed the ban on pork from Quebec but Canadian industry officials said that would have little affect on sales because only two Quebec plants are licensed to sell to Russia.
Lifting the Ontario ban will have far more commercial impact.
Canada Pork International executive director Jacques Pomerleau said even before the flu issue surfaced, Canadian sales to Russia were down from last year’s pace.
