November 7, 2006

Russia may cancel EU meat imports on safety assurance

Russia threatened to cancel meat import from the EU after Jan 1, 2007, if Brussels did not assure it of the safety of meat products from new member states, Bulgaria and Romania, reported the Russian press.

Sergey Dankvert, head of Rosselhoznadzor, the Russian Department for Food Products Safety said he had already conveyed the same to the EU representatives.

The prohibition would be valid for livestock, products of animal origin, food for animals and other goods, which are object to veterinary control, said Dankvert. The measures according to him, would also be applied to products from countries transiting through the EU territory.

The issue was not raised at the ministerial level meeting held the same day, nor has it ever been raised at a technical level and the only information the Commission had in this respect was from the Russian press, clarified Emma Udwin, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero Waldner to "Standard Daily".

Incidentally, Russia raised the issue relating to compensations from the EU on the occasion of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, because of the loss of its preferential trade tariffs with the new members, added Udwin.

The sudden Russian fears concerning Bulgarian meat appeared surprising, reported the "Standard Daily". About one third of Bulgaria's exports to Russia are foodstuffs, including canned meat.