December 12, 2006

Russia seeks bilateral deals for EU meat imports

Russia will only import meat and other animal products from those European Union nations which guarantee its safety, the top veterinary official said Monday (Dec 11).

Sergei Dankvert, the head of the state food safety watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, said that his agency will conduct bilateral talks with each EU nation which is willing to export its animal products to Russia, the Interfax news agency reported. As of Jan 1, Russia will only import meat from those EU nations willing to sign bilateral agreements guaranteeing the safety of deliveries, he said.

Dankvert's statement follows Moscow's threat last month to ban all animal products from the EU starting next year over what it calls poor livestock health standards in new EU members, Bulgaria and Romania.

A Russian ban on imports of EU meat, dairy and fish products would affect some EUR1.7 billion in annual trade, according to the EU.

Russia earlier had banned meat and some plant imports from Poland, saying its shoddy customs practices allowed unwanted meat products from Asian nations to reach Russia.