Russia’s Federal Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Oversight Service announced that TBA, a steroid used to increase muscle growth in cattle has been found in a number of Australian beef samples. In response, Russia has increased levels of testing on Australian export beef processors and in one case has de-listed imports from an exporter after TBA was detected in beef liver samples. Australia is one of Russia’s biggest suppliers of beef. Forty seven suppliers are listed as market-eligible exporters. Year to date Russia and the CIS states have taken 29,000 tons of beef from Australia and exports for November reached 3,000 tons – double that of November 2012. Some Australian trade stakeholders see this move by Russia as a means for that country to restrict trade.
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