March 2, 2012

An export of tuberculosis-infected milk to Russia has been denied by Belarusian Deputy Agriculture Minister Nadezhda Kotkovets, saying that such reports amount to a deliberate provocation, RIA Novosti reported Thursday (Mar 1).

Several media outlets, citing undisclosed sources, reported Wednesday (Feb 29) that Belarus had supplied tuberculosis-infected milk to Russia. The media also reported that authorities had covered-up information about the infection.

"Exporting tuberculosis-infected milk just wouldn't happen," Kotkovets said, adding that Belarus has strict controls for monitoring all of the production stages.

Russia's consumer rights watchdog declined to comment.

Alexei Alexeyenko, spokesman for Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight, told PRIME the service had no information about tuberculosis outbreaks at Belarusian enterprises. If evidence of a tuberculosis infection is uncovered, the watchdog is ready to take the necessary measures to protect the Russian market, he added.