This relates to tariff-free quotas for duty-free importation of pork and beef to Russia in 2022. Currently, quota for pork imports to Russia amounts to 25%, whereas quota for beef meat imports is 15%. Due to a number of issues including outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF), meat production volumes have decreased in Russia. Therefore, duty-free importation of meat of certain amount was proposed.
According to the draft, the tariff incentive for beef imports will be valid from January 1 to December 31, 2022. The tariff-free quota for duty-free importation of beef will be 200,000 tons. The tariff incentive for pork imports will be valid from January 1 to June 30, 2022. The tariff-free quota for duty-free importation of pork will be 100,000 tons.
The draft includes a list of documents that importers are required to submit to be eligible for tariff incentives for importation of meat to Russia.
The General Director of the National Pig Union Yuri Kovalev announced earlier that duty-free importation will lead to an increase in pork supplies to the Russian market and may result in a wholesale price drop.
“What is 100,000 tons of pork? In terms of six months, this is another 5-6%. Russia consumes 2 million tons of pork within six months. We expect that an increase in meat supply will cause market prices to surge,” explained Yuri Kovalev.
The union estimated that the increase in pork supply on the domestic market by 13-18% and the negative outlook for export growth could lead to wholesale prices drop by 10-15%.
