Russia has banned Australian chilled and frozen beef from today over claims it has detected trenbolone, a growth stimulant, which it says is unsafe.
The decision is a blow to Aussie meat processors. Beef is Australia's largest export to Russia, and the market is worth an estimated $110 million a year. The figures aren't massive, but the market has been growing.
Most international markets accept beef produced from animals treated with the growth stimulant trenbolone, however Russia does not.
Last year Russia complained about use of trenbolone, though the Department of Agriculture investigated and found no evidence of its use in the shipment in question.
When Russia again mentioned traces of trenbolone two weeks ago, Australian officials also found it was not used in the cattle in question.
The steroids were apparently found in premium wagyu beef, though Australian Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has said this was unlikely.
It was more likely that diplomatic issues were interfering with trade, given Australia had imposed its own sanctions on Russia in response to the Crimean crisis, he recently told ABC radio.
In the meantime, he said, Australia will develop other trade markets such as China and Korea.
