Russia bans the European pork imports

From the 20^th of March, Russia bans pork imports from the European Union, due to the Schmallenberg virus emerging in Europe.

The Russian veterinary authorities explained on Monday that the Schmallenberg virus and the blue tongue disease spreads rapidly in the European Union.

However, the import ban affects only a small amount of the European exports: only 55 thousand tons of live pigs were exported to Russia from the EU member states.

The Schmallenberg virus mainly infects sheep and cattle, and believed to be transmitted by mosquitoes. (MTI)