December 12, 2006

 

EU imposes new food rules on Bulgaria, Romania

 

 

European Union food safety experts have tightened rules on Bulgarian and Romanian milk, meat and animal exports into other EU countries from Jan 1, the European Commission announced Monday (Dec 11).

 

The move was seen as an attempt to appease Russia to resolve a row over meat imports.

 

Russia has earlier threatened to stop all EU imports of meat from Jan. 1 unless it is assured of the quality and safety of its meat products after Bulgaria and Romania join the bloc next month.

 

The tension was worsened by Russia's continued ban on Polish meat products. Poland has threatened to stand in the way of Russian-EU talks if the bans continue.

 

Under the new measures, Bulgarian companies authorised to export meat and milk products to other EU states after EU accession would have to wait at least another year.

 

Romanian and Bulgarian processors using products imported from non-EU countries were also banned from exporting these processed goods into EU markets.

 

The decision was expected, said Dimitar Peychev, Bulgaria's deputy agriculture minister, adding that the EU has highlighted the deficiencies of the country's industry, especially in the dairy sector.

 

A commission official dismissed views that the moves were made to placate Russia, saying they were to be enforced no matter what the political situation was with Russia. However, it also served to notify Russia that the EU is serious on food safety, the official said.

 

Russia has expressed doubts of meat safety rules in Bulgaria and Romania, which have had many cases of classical swine fever and bluetongue.

 

Current restrictions on exports of live pigs and pig meat from Romania and parts of Bulgaria to the EU due to classical swine fever were extended by the EU executive until September 2007.