February 9, 2007

Ukraine-Poland to resume meat trade

Ukraine has agreed to allow Polish meat and related products, provided Polish meat-processing companies meet Ukrainian veterinary standards.

Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Minister Yuriy Melnyk also drew attention to the problem of meat smuggling from Poland, according to the press service of the ministry.

Ukraine banned the import of meat and meat products from Poland in March last year. In Nov-Dec, Ukraine authorities conducted an audit of the Polish veterinary service and inspected meat-processing companies in the country.

The inspection brought to the fore several systematic drawbacks in the country's veterinary service.

In view of the latest move to consider a resumption of trade, Ukrainian experts recently visited Poland's meat-processing companies once again.