Russian econ ministry may appeal vs WTO pork decision in mid-Sep

KURSK, Aug 22 (PRIME) -- The Russian Economic Development Ministry will decide on appealing the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) support of an E.U. case against Russia’s prohibition of imports of its pork products, Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told reporters Monday.

“We will work with experts more, but I think we will be ready for this step. Now it is a vacation season, so I think that we will define our next step, let’s say, by mid-September,” he said.

On January 30, 2014, the Russian veterinary authority prohibited imports of European pork products until the receipt of safety warrants from the European Commission after an outbreak of African swine fever in Lithuania. The E.U. called the prohibition a disproportional measure and sent a petition to convoke an expert group over the disagreement to the WTO.

On August 19, the WTO said it supports the E.U. case against Russia and several measures introduced by Russia contradict the country’s WTO obligations.

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