The breakthrough in negotiations between the Russian and EU authorities on certification of food imports has been welcomed by the Irish food industry which feared disruption to trade.
Russia, Ireland's largest non-EU market for beef, had banned the import of all produce from the EU for a short time in June in an attempt to get uniform veterinary certification from the EU.
The Federation gave the Union until October 1st to come up with a solution to the problems it faced, including certification for product originating in one member-state and processed in another.
The EU had been seeking a commitment from the Russians that it accept regionalisation, ie, that it should not ban all EU imports just because there was an outbreak of animal disease in one of the 25 countries.
Announcing the breakthrough in negotiations, the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr David Byrne, said the way was now clear for uninterrupted trade between the EU and Russia and that over €1 billion in annual exports had been saved.
Ireland's beef trade with Russia had been particularly vulnerable with exports of over 75,000 tonnes last year and trade running at roughly the same level this year.
Meat Industry Ireland, said the loss or even disruption to trade with this market would have been a catastrophe for the Irish beef sector.