January 2, 2008

Russia approves 29 Polish meat exporters

Russia has already opened its meat trading doors to Poland after giving a go-signal to twenty-nine Polish meat producers, signifying a two-year meat trade rift between the two countries.

Poland's chief veterinary officer Ewa Lech said around 20 swine farms and nine poultry meat processors have passed Moscow's sanitary standards.

Lech told Warsaw Voice Online that the exporters' facilities were inspected by Russian veterinary officers early December.

Russian media said more than 65 Polish companies are seen to ship 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes of meat this year.

In mid-December, Poland and Russia signed an agreement lifting Moscow's ban on imports of Polish meat.

The relationship between Warsaw and Moscow is seen to improve as well as with Russia and the European Union with the lifting of the meat ban.