However, while total volumes of pork and poultry are lowered for Russia, volumes of pork and beef have been increased for Kazakhstan and remain unchanged for Belarus.

According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the Russian pork market access is improved when compared to a July 2012 GOR Resolution and all Russian Tariff Rate Quota volumes are subject to change in mid-2012, following Russian WTO Accession.

The CU member countries will distribute, if necessary, the volume of tariff rate quotas between third countries and distribute 2012 TRQ volumes among the participants of foreign trade in accordance with member-state legislation as well as issue licenses for the importation of goods in respect of which tariff rate quotas are established, FAS says.

Russia will have pork access reduced from 472,100 metric tonnes to 400,000 MT. There will be more pork trimming access - 30,000 MT compared to 27,900 MT in 2011.

There will be less poultry access with the amount reduced from 350,000 MT to 330,000 MT.

Kazakhstan will see more frozen beef access rising from 10,000 MT to 13,900 MT and more pork access - up from 7,400 MT to 9,400 MT.

A draft Ministry of Economic Development Resolution suggests Russia will break-out poultry into three separate quotas as defined in July 2011.

It also suggests country-specific allocations will be issued for chilled beef, frozen beef, and boneless chicken meat.

FAS says that for Kazakhstan no indications yet announced.

The Belarus Deputy Minister of Agriculture Kotkovets said Belarus will distribute quota among processors (not importers) with no country-specific allocations. Quota holders will decide themselves, based on a tender, where to source product.