MOSCOW, August 04. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s veterinary inspection service Rosselkhoznadzor said on Monday it did not rule out the possibility of a total ban on beef imports from the United States.

“We are assessing risk levels at the moment,” said Alexei Alexeyenko, aide to Rosselkhoznadzor head. “We do not exclude the possibility of restrictions.”

The watchdog announced earlier on Monday that recent batches of chilled veal imports supplied from US veal grower and processor Marcho Farms contained traces of the antibiotic tetracycline. The company is one of the four US suppliers which have no restrictions on beef imports to Russia. At present, ninety-nine US companies are certified for delivery of beef to the country.