Had any of you heard about this?
Russia has banned beef imports from the EU as a new disease spreads across Europe.
The Schmallenberg virus was first detected in Germany in August but has now spread to the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium and France.
Initially Russia had only banned sheepmeat imports, but this week Rosselkhoznadzor, the country's veterinary service, extended the ban to beef.
Russia is expected to import 1 million tonnes of beef this year, and traditionally it buys about 130,000 tonnes of EU beef each year.
Before the EU beef ban was announced, Meat and Livestock Australia had predicted Australia would send about 70,000 tonnes of beef to Russia.
In its cattle industry projections, MLA said there was the chance for Australia to cement its role in the Russian beef market was "considerable".
Last year, Australia sent 55,900 tonnes of beef to Russia, 97 per cent of which was frozen grassfed beef.
Source: weeklytimesnow.com.au
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