Russia may regulate livestock

MOSCOW, July 15 (UPI) -- A law being considered by the Russian parliament would allow regional authorities to place limits on livestock ownership by individuals.

The measure was introduced to the Duma by deputies from Stavropol where a swine fever outbreak occurred, The Moscow Times reported. The deputies say local authorities discovered they had no power to regulate local livestock herds, even those with scores of animals.

Igor Smolkin, head of Agro-Invest, a subsidiary of a Swedish company that farms thousands of acres in Russia, said under current law "anybody can keep 20 or more cows like pet dogs" without any requirements of proper sanitation.

Critics of the proposed law suggest it would be a return to Soviet-style regulation of agriculture done for the benefit of large agricultural companies.

Roman Kipot of the Institute for Current Agricultural Markets said about half of the livestock in Russia is owned by small farmers who typically sell at farm markets.