Russia eases restrictions on imports of Fonterra dairy products

Russia has lifted its temporary ban on imports of New Zealand-based Fonterra’s dairy products, following the company’s recall of three batches of its whey protein concentrate (WPC), which were allegedly contaminated with botulism causing bacteria.

Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being, has announced that it lifted the ban after analysing test results from New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

The results indicated that the bacterium detected in WPC manufactured by Fonterra did not contain Clostridium botulinum.

MPI stated that although Fonterra’s milk products are allowed for imports to Russia, there are still a few restrictions on the company.

There were two sets of restrictions in place – one regarding the sale of New Zealand products in Russia, while the other, which is still in place, is over the imports of other Fonterra products.

An MPI spokesperson said that the agency is in talks with Russian authorities to resolve the remaining issues so that all trade can resume.

Russia was one of the countries that banned imports of Fonterra’s dairy products, following a botulism scare last month.

In August, Fonterra stated that certain batches of its WPC contained botulism causing bacteria and the problem occurred due to a dirty pipe at a WPC processing site.

The implicated product was exported to a number of countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia.

MPI noted that tests of the products, conducted independently in the US and New Zealand, containing the implicated WPC revealed the presence of clostridium sporogenes, which does not cause botulism; however, at elevated levels certain strains may be associated with food spoilage.