June 23, 2011

Russia gears up for poultry exports to Europe

Russia is preparing conditions for poultry exports specially catered to the EU by implementing a quality control system that suits European standards, according to the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary.

Particularly in the last week, experts from the Bureau of Food and Veterinary Office under EU Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection were engaged in checking the current control system for the production of poultry meat destined for export to the EU from Russia. During the test, the ability of the control system to enforce the requirements of EU legislation was clarified.

Inspectors which were working in the Belgorod region have access to all information for operation of the territorial administrations of Rosselkhoznadzor, Rospotrebnadzor, and the state veterinary service in the region. During the inspection specialists visited two poultry processing companies, a farm for growing fowl, Interregional Veterinary Laboratory and the Central Scientific-methodical Veterinary Laboratory.

The official Rosselkhoznadzor report also noted that the inspectors marked the achievement of significant progress in the implementation of the previous mission recommendations. Some of these recommendations have been fully implemented and others are currently in the final stages of implementation. Within a month, a draft report considering the audit should be submitted to Rosselkhoznadzor.

According to official data, over the past five years, Russian poultry production has increased by 75%. Last year, domestic poultry products have been exported to the markets of Southeast Asia. Experts predict that the growth of poultry production will allow the Russian Federation in 2012-13 to increase the export potential of these products.