The Rosselkhoznadzor is to state the fact that in spite of presence of such dangerous disease as African swine fever (ASF) in the territory of the European Union the European Commission has not yet performed regionalization of the EU territory as well as of the territory of Lithuania and Poland on such terms and conditions, which could be acceptable to the CU countries in compliance with the principles set in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
The Rosselkhoznadzor repeatedly highlighted absence of EU veterinary control over pork and pork product movement between the EU states. In this respect, high concern is raised by the fact that DG SANCO cannot guarantee non-use of raw pork from ASF affected EU countries in the production chain of finished products exported into the Russian Federation.
In view of the above mentioned and considering non-constructive approaches demonstrated by the European Commission during the negotiations as well as insufficient measures for eradication and prevention of the ASF spread over the EU territory, the Rosselkhoznadzor has to share the measures taken in respect of finished products containing pork by the Department for Veterinary and Food Surveillance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus.
Thus, from April 7, 2014 temporary restrictions on importation of finished pork products from the plants of the Republic of Lithuania and Republic of Poland into the Russian Federation are being imposed. The restrictions will be in action until terms and conditions of the EU territory ASF regionalization are agreed and processing plants are inspected by the Customs Union experts. Such inspection should include risk assessment as for safety of importation of finished products containing pork and examination of raw materials zone of such processing plants.
Wednesday April 2, 2014/ Rosselkhoznadzor/ Russia.
http://www.fsvps.ru/