On Monday, the EU stepped up its exports row with Russia, asking the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva to rule on Russia's ban on imports of pigs and pork products from Europe. The ban was ostensibly introduced in response to the detection of African Swine Fever in two EU countries in January.

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The stand-off over ASF comes as EU-Russian relationships are at a low point, in light of the Ukraine crisis.  

Two wild boar carcasses found in Lithuania and Poland tested positive for ASF at the beginning of the year. These are the first known cases of the disease – which is deadly to pigs, but does not affect humans – in the European Union.

Since 2007, there have been over 600 cases of ASF reported in wild boars in Russia, alongside 400 outbreaks on farms affecting 500,000 domestic pigs in total. EU officials, who called Russia's response to the discoveries "disproportionate" and "unjustified" earlier this year, believe that "there is little doubt that the disease spread from Russia to Belarus and from Belarus to the EU." The dead boar found on EU territory in January were discovered close to the Belarus border.

The bloc is demanding Russia lift its trade ban against unaffected areas in the EU. Talks with Russia were held on 30 April and 1 May 2014, but these broke down.

"Russia's import restrictions on European pork are clearly disproportionate, discriminatory and not based on science," said EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. "As this goes against international trade rules, Europe has no choice but to request the establishment of a panel at the WTO."

Health Commissioner Tonio Borg added, "The EU immediately put in place measures to contain the spread of the disease. Thus, EU products from the non-affected areas are perfectly safe. Despite our efforts over the last five months and the numerous bilateral contacts we had with Russia, there is no sign that Russia will allow trade to resume from the unaffected areas in the EU."

Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos said the Russian ban has affected farmers in the bloc. "The Russian import restrictions on pig meat from the EU have already had a severe impact on the EU pig sector, requiring crisis assistance measures. During the 5 months the ban has now been in place, European pig meat producers have lost exports worth some €580 million," he said.

Russia's suspension of exports of live pigs and pork has affected 25% of all EU pork exports.

Russia has been a member of the WTO since 2012. The EU Commission complained that Russia has treated other countries with similar or worse outbreaks of disease more favourably, and continued to accept imports from them. The Commission said Russia is in breach of its WTO commitments.

Commission sources said the matter is expected to be discussed at a WTO meeting on 10^th July.