Canadian Beef and Pork Exporters Responsible for Testing Meat Destined for Russia

Dec 12, 2012

Testing for Ractopamine - A New Requirement for Meat Exports to Russia

Canadian Federal Ag Minister Gerry Ritz announced Tuesday that exporters are responsible for satisfying the new Russian requirement for beef and pork meat products for zero residue of the feed additive ractopamine.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has provided meat processors with a set of testing guidelines to meet the new Russian meat export requirements.

"At this point, we're making sure the Russians understand this is not science-based," Ritz said at an unrelated news conference in Winnipeg. "There is an agreement around the world that ractopamine is a safe and usable product."

Russia’s request is that beef and pork products being imported from both Canada and the U.S. to be free ractopamine as of Dec 7. Canada has requested that Russia delay the new regulatory requirement until February.

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.