March 14, 2007

Russia's ban on Polish meat unjustified- EU
 

Russia's detailed complaints about the safety of Polish meat and meat products do not represent a real cause for concern and do not justify any trade ban, the European Union's executive Commission said on Tuesday (March 13).

Commission spokesman Philip Tod said the detailed presentation by Russian authorities on certain deficiencies on meat from Poland are systemic but certainly does not justify a trade embargo.

The statement came after the first day of negotiations in Moscow that followed recent inspections of Polish meat producers by Russian and EU officials.

Russia banned Polish meat and plant products more than a year ago on health safety grounds. Warsaw has said the ban was political and vetoed talks between Brussels and Moscow on a new cooperation pact until the ban was lifted.

Safety of meat and plant products has been souring relations between Russia and the EU for several years since the bloc started adopting new members, through which, Russia has said, animal and plant products of doubtful origin could be shipped.

The EU-Russia talks also concern animal and plant health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, which wrote to the Commission last month asking that it present by March 31 plans for monitoring residues of dangerous and banned substances in live animals, products and feed.

Russia wants the results of monitoring last year. If the EU executive fails to deliver the relevant documents on time, Russia has said it may ban some imports.

At the end of 2006, Russia threatened to cut meat and plant exports from the EU from this year as it was unsure new EU members Bulgaria and Romania met food safety standards.