Imminent shortage of pet food in Russia?

In the last week of March, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor; RSN) met representatives of industrial unions and associations in the pet sector along with importers and manufacturers of pet food and ingredients. The aim of the talks was to discuss the looming shortage of ingredients for the domestic pet food industry, according to the Moscow-based news service Zooinform.
The RSN representatives stated that they are selectively examining the resumption of imports from certain companies on request. Temporary permits for the import of raw materials and ingredients that were previously issued by the supervisory authority are also to be extended to the end of the year.
Zooinform reports that pet food imports shrank by 20 per cent up to 11 March by comparison with the same period in the previous year, although the supply of livestock feed increased by 23 per cent in the same timespan. Pet food deliveries from Germany suffered a significant decline of 27 per cent. Imports from other countries including Denmark and Norway were also down. According to the Zooinform report, the RSN intends to look at the possibility of importing pet food from new sources. Talks are currently taking place with China, Brazil and Argentina.