Russian Agricultural Administration reinstates import of sausages and poultry from Belarus.
In the Pskov region of Russia, a batch of ready-to-eat meat products was recently returned from Belarus due to violations of veterinary and sanitary rules during transportation. The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) conducted an inspection at the border, discovering a series of unsatisfactory conditions.
According to the latest updates, Rosselkhoznadzor is responsible for ensuring that all imported meat products, including ready-to-eat meats, comply with sanitary and phytosanitary regulations. This involves verifying veterinary certificates, import permits from Rosselkhoznadzor, certificates or declarations of conformity (such as GOST R), and laboratory test protocols for the shipped products.
Belarus primarily meets its demand for processed meat products by domestic production supplemented with pork imported from Russia for processing and export as value-added meat products. As a result, cross-border transportation of meat products is significant, with Belarus importing mostly raw materials from Russia to produce processed meats.
The transport conditions for such meat products require temperature-controlled logistics, often refrigerated vehicles with continuous temperature monitoring, to maintain product safety and quality. Rosselkhoznadzor inspections at border checkpoints like those in the Pskov region focus on verifying these conditions along with documentation.
During the recent inspection, an inspector of Rosselkhoznadzor stopped the movement of 200 kg of ready-to-eat meat products. The cargo compartment of the vehicle was found to be in an unsatisfactory sanitary condition, with foreign objects such as a spare wheel and jack discovered among the products. Moreover, the vehicle was not equipped with refrigeration equipment necessary for maintaining the temperature regime during the transportation of meat products.
The violations occurred during the transportation of the ready-to-eat meat products, which were intended for the territory of the Russian Federation. The veterinary certificates for the sausages, pork fat, and smoked-boiled chicken breast were not provided, which would have confirmed the origin and safety of the cargo.
Despite these recent incidents, no specific new regulatory changes for ready-to-eat meat products exports to or from Belarus through Pskov were highlighted in the available updates as of August 2025. However, import/export operations are subject to comprehensive inspections by Rosselkhoznadzor to ensure compliance with Russian veterinary and sanitary requirements, including permits and certificates required for transit.
In summary, Rosselkhoznadzor inspection is mandatory on ready-to-eat meat product shipments at the Russia-Belarus border, including Pskov, focusing on veterinary clearance and sanitary compliance. Required documents include veterinary certificates, Rosselkhoznadzor permits, conformity certificates (e.g., GOST R), and test protocols for products. Belarus relies heavily on imported Russian pork for processed meat production, supporting substantial cross-border meat transport. Transport must maintain strict cold chain controls throughout transit to ensure safe delivery of ready-to-eat meats.
The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) inspects ready-to-eat meat products exported from Belarus to ensure they meet the sanitary and phytosanitary regulations for import in Russia. Adherence to industry standards in food-and-drink sectors, such as ready-to-eat meat products, is crucial for maintaining the safety and quality of the final products, thereby affecting both domestic finance and lifestyle.
