The National Meat Association, which includes the largest producers of meat and meat products, such as Miratorg and Cherkizovo, appealed to Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Gordeyev with a proposal to ban private individuals from importing meat and dairy products from abroad for personal use (for current rules, Russians may import up to 5 kg of animal products for personal use). Manufacturers also offer to strengthen luggage and hand luggage control at the border, according to agrovesti.net.
The National Meat Association explains its initiative by the desire to prevent epidemics among animals in Russia, since the causative agents of diseases can be imported with food. The ASF virus (African swine fever) is not dangerous to humans, but it can spread through food waste and wildlife.
"It’s impossible to prohibit it 100%," Konstantin Lysenko said, editor-in-chief of Agrarian Review magazine, news.sarbc.ru reports. "If we are talking about the fight with Jamon and Parmesan, then it is ridiculous and meaningless, like any struggle with ghosts, still transported across the border. All this Jamon and Parmesan, which are imported by passengers of international flights, is a ridiculous market share, does not affect anything, and will not bring benefits to anyone. This way you can fight African swine fever and pangolin. This is a good thing, all countries that have problems with this kind of animal diseases, restrict the importation of animal products. But people still carry, even if they are bringing sandwiches to eat on the way."
