Russia has introduced a partial import ban on meat from Paraguay, citing bacterial contamination, local media said Sunday.
The Prensa Latina news agency said citing government sources that Russia would freeze for up to 60 days meat imports from six factories accounting for a total of 76 percent of imports from the South American country.
The head of the country's National Animal Quality and Health service, Hugo Idoyaga, has confirmed the report. Russia's agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has not commented on the report.
Paraguay is expected to export beef worth more than $1 billion in 2013, with Russia and Chile the primary markets.
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