January 22, 2007

Russia, EU sign memorandum on trade in cattle products
 

Russia and the European Union have finally signed a memorandum on trade in cattle products.

The document was signed between Russian head of the federal veterinarian and phytosanitary control service Sergei Dankvert and European deputy agriculture commissioner Paola Coggi at the Green Week 2007 show in Berlin, reported Russian news agency Itarr Tass.

According to the memorandum, the Russian government and the EC have agreed upon uniform standards and quality requirements to cattle products and would guarantee mutual safety in cattle product trade, Russian agriculture minister Alexei Gordeyev said.

Germany, which presides at the EU in the first half of this year and acts on behalf of 27 countries of the European community, approved the memorandum.

It marked a sign of friendly relations between Russia and the EU, pointed out German food and agriculture minister Horst Seehofer.

In particular, the memorandum guarantees that Russia would not receive cattle products barred from the EU market not only directly from Romania and Bulgaria but also via third countries.