June 29, 2007

Russia calls for worldwide network to trace animal diseases

Russian Agriculture minister Aleksey Gordeyev called for a worldwide network to trace animal diseases in a meeting with OIE.

The leaders of the Russian agriculture ministry met with the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) in Moscow last week to find ways of tackling animal disease across Europe.

Gordeyev raised concerns with the OIE director general Bernard Vallat over the recent outbreak of African swine fever in Georgia on the Russian borders.

The members of the OIE expressed concerns at the way the outbreak had been handled and the consequences that had arisen from ending of veterinary border controls.

Aleksey Gordeyev said that if veterinary measures could not be used to keep borders safe, then commercial restrictions had to be used.

Russia's long-standing disagreement with Poland over the safety of its meat imports was also discussed, with the OIE offering to be part of tri-lateral negotiations to resolve the issue.

However, the Russian ministry said it would prefer to conduct inspections at Polish meat processing plants, which Poland has so far rejected.