The Obama administration has called on Russia to suspend its new requirements that any meat exported to that country must be accompanied by a certificate issued by a government veterinary service indicating the products were “produced without the use of ractopamine.”

P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

December 17, 2012

1 Min Read
Russian Ractopamine Tests Exceed WTO Requirements

The Obama administration has called on Russia to suspend its new requirements that any meat exported to that country must be accompanied by a certificate issued by a government veterinary service indicating the products were “produced without the use of ractopamine.” In a joint statement, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, said, “The United States is very concerned that Russia has taken these actions, which appear to be inconsistent with its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The United States calls on Russia to suspend these new measures and restore market access for U.S. beef and pork products. The United States sought, and Russia committed as part of its WTO accession package, to ensure that it adhered rigorously to WTO requirements and that it would use international standards unless it had a risk assessment to justify use of a more stringent standard. Especially in light of its commitment to use international standards, this is an important opportunity for Russia to demonstrate that it takes its WTO commitments seriously." Administration officials were in Russia last week to discuss this issue.

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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