Russia is set to impose new restrictions on its meat imports next week, a move that is being watched closely by pork and cattle producers in Canada.

The guidelines, which will be unveiled Monday, are expected to be related to concerns over the use of the feed additive ractopamine in livestock.

Since December, Russia has restricted the import of Canadian meats that contain this additive and are anticipated to tighten these regulations further.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said the government is "disappointed" in Russia for going ahead with these restrictions, even though they are "not rooted in science."

Jacques Pomerleau, president of the Canada Pork International, says the restrictions will mean that pork producers may have re-examine their use of ractopamine, if they want to continue to export into Russia.

Pomerleau says Russia is Canada's third-largest market for Canadian pork, with imports worth about $500 million last year.