The ban on imports of poultry meat from Germany will be lifted at the end of this month, according to a report by TASS. "We shall lift all limitations regarding poultry in late February," Russia's Chief Veterinarian Nikolai Vlasov and the Deputy Head of Rosselkhoznadzor, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, told a news conference. "By that time there will no be fears about dioxin in the meat."

As for pork, which has a longer storage life, the ban will not be lifted until late March at the earliest. Vlasov mentioned also that pork imports were not banned fully. The ban does not apply to pork produced before November 1, 2010, and for "young pork grown after the incident," said Vlasov. Vlasov admitted that it is impossible to be absolutely sure that no meat containing dioxin did not enter Russia's market. "Not a single veterinary service in the world can ever work with 100 percent guarantees," Vlasov said. (meatingplace.com)