The Russian market for Irish beef and porkvalued at £30 million reopened today. The market was closed over foot-and-mouth.
Last year Russia imported 15,000 tonnes of beef and 6,500 tonnes of porkfrom Ireland.
The move, announced today by the Minister for Agriculture Mr Walsh, followed similar developments earlier this week affecting sales to Spain and Lebanon.
Ireland was declared free of the disease last month at the end of a 30-day statutory period following confirmation of the State's sole foot-and-mouth outbreak close to the Border in Co Louth.
There have been a number of precautionary tests against thevirus - most recently today, when samples from a sheep in Co Donegal were sent to experts for checking in Pirbright in Surrey.
But all have turned out to be negative and a Department of Agriculture spokesman stressed today there was no great concern at the Donegal development.
The Minister said re-opening the Russian market was "hugely important" for Ireland and followed a period of intense lobbying. He added: "This is a major step towards the full re-establishment of our vital international beef export trade.
"The decision by the Russians is a further expression of confidence by a major international customer in the quality and safety of our agriculture and food products, and also in the regulatory systems in place in Ireland."
PA