February 5, 2004

Russia May Halt EU Meat Imports

Russia are ready to halt meat imports from the European Union on May 1 if a single meat import-export veterinary certificate is not agreed with E.U. officials, Evgeny Nepoklonov, head of the veterinary department of the agriculture ministry said in Moscow Wednesday.

Nepoklonov said Russia objected to the current veterinary control system under which certificates for the import of meat to E.U. countries were issued by the E.U. veterinary commission, while certificates for the export of meat from the region are carried out by individual veterinary services in E.U. countries.

He said Russia wants a single veterinary certificate suitable for both the import and export of meat, which should be issued by a single European veterinary control agency.

Nepoklonov said Russia officially warned the E.U. in March 2003 that European veterinary certificates would not be recognized by Russia unless an agreement was reached between Russian and E.U. officials on a single unified certificate. Russia also at the time submitted to the E.U. a version of the certificate it favored.

Nepoklonov said the process had been slowed down by the E.U. and Russia would have to take decisive steps if there was still no agreement by May 1.