OREANDA-NEWS. The authorities of Argentina decided to suspend the export of beef for 30 days in order to stabilize the prices of meat on the domestic market.

The decision was made "as a result of the steady increase in beef prices on the domestic market" and is part of a set of emergency measures, the newspaper said.

At the same time, President Alberto Fernandez noted that the export freeze can be lifted ahead of time if positive results are seen.

The plans to stop exports for a month earlier were reported by the newspaper La Nacion, citing sources. She reported that meat prices in Argentina seasonally increase towards the end of the year, but usually then go down. However, this year, the traditional decline did not occur and in May, meat prices continued to rise.

Daniel Pelegrina, president of the Argentine Agricultural Society (Sociedad Rural Argentina, SRA), which brings together large landowners, called the measure disastrous. "Stopping meat exports for 30 days is a mistake and a step backwards in every sense. This will cause irreparable damage to the manufacturing sector, which has been proven to create jobs and [economic] activity throughout the country. This decision undermines the image of Argentina as a reliable supplier, and we will again give the markets to our main competitors, " he said.

According to the Federal Customs Service, in 2020, Russia imported 44.8 tons of cattle meat from Argentina. The main export market for the country, according to La Nacion, is China, which accounts for 75% of meat supplies. It is followed by Israel and Chile.

Russia itself has repeatedly suspended the import of meat from individual producers from Argentina. In December 2019, the decision was made due to the discovery of the muscle growth stimulator ractopamine in beef.

In May 2018, the Rosselkhoznadzor expressed concern about the increased detection of antibiotics in animal products from Argentina.