Russia threatens to ban EU meat and feed

Sergei Yastrzhembsky, spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, said Russia had
no objection to Bulgaria or Romania entering the EU, but it was important for
the two countries to meet all the requirements for entry, including tightening
up their health standards, over which Russia continued to have
concerns.

Avoid a complete ban
Yastrzhembsky said
that is was not just a question of Romanian or Bulgarian meat, but more the
sub-standard meat from elsewhere that could pass through the two countries. He
said Russia would prefer to avoid a complete ban on EU meat products. Russia has
already banned Polish meat for a year. In response to the ban, Warsaw vetoed the
start of talks on a wide-ranging EU-Russian accord that would update relations
between the two sides. Putin in the Financial Times warned Poland
and other EU member states not to take a confrontational approach that would
classify Moscow as a “friend or foe”. He added that the two sides should “turn
over a new leaf” in their relationship.

Disproportionate and
costly
The EU has called Russia’s ban on Polish meat
“disproportionate” and Warsaw says it costs the country’s farmers one million
euros a day. However, in July, the European Commission found there were problems
with processed meat. Russia carried out a similar threat in May 2004, when 10
new members, mostly from central Europe, joined. It banned animal feed for
several weeks.
“There is no real reason for Russia to treat Europe in such a
way,” said Franz-Josef Feiter, head of Copa-Cogeca, the EU farmers’
lobby. “We can assure them there will be no change in the quality of products
from us.”

“For
the latest animal feed/nutrition news, subscribe
here
“