May 4, 2011

Brazil to remove violations that stop meat exports

After a discussion with Brazil's embassy officials, Brazil is prepared to remove violations at its meat processing plants as soon as possible for Russia and its customs union partners Belarus and Kazakhstan to remove an import ban, according to Russia's agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor on Tuesday (May 3).

"The embassy officials on behalf of the National Veterinary Service of Brazil have expressed readiness to eliminate the existing systematic violations as soon as possible, so that meat products manufactured for exports to the customs union, meet all relevant requirements," Rosselkhoznadzor said.

Brazil, which initiated the talks, has also asked for a meeting between Rosselkhoznadzor and Brazil's National Veterinary Service, whose date and place are to be determined later.

Russia initially suspended exports of Brazilian beef, pork and poultry last August saying Brazilian quality and safety control specialists were unfamiliar with veterinary and sanitary requirements and norms of Russia and the customs union. The ban also covers Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Last week, Russia decided to maintain the import ban from 13 Brazil processing enterprises, following a check of 29 plants.

On Friday (Apr 29), Luiz Carlos de Oliveira, director of animal products inspection for Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said the reasons for maintaining the ban could not be explained by food safety.

Oliveira said Russia completed the check too quickly and its results seemed to have been written in advance or distorted by translation. The question will be discussed in mid-May at a meeting of Brazil's delegation headed by Vice President Michel Temer and Rosselkhoznadzor, he said.

A Rosselkhoznadzor spokesman Alexei Alexeyenko said the ban was a temporary measure and Russia was concerned by systematic violations revealed by the check.

"In the last 1.5 years, the situation has not improved but worsened," said Alexeyenko. "We have a feeling that someone is trying to exert a political pressure on us."

The watchdog is also ready to provide Brazil information on how to eliminate the violations identified during the check, it said.