Brussels, 15/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - At the Agriculture Council on 15 December, the European Commission confirmed that Russian authorities are continuing to impose restrictions on animal and plant export products from the EU. “Disproportionate trade disrupting practices have been identified in all sectors, especially they meat sector,” said European Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. The Commission is conducting veterinary and plant health negotiations with Russia to re-establish normal export flows of agricultural and plant products from the EU to Russia, in the light of memoranda concluded between the two parties in 2004 and 2008.
The Commissioner said that, as a result of “minor irregularities”, EU producers had been removed from the list of approved exporters. “How and when they can re-join the list remains unclear,” she added. She said that the Commission was in constant dialogue with the Russian authorities to minimise disturbance to trade and defend the safety of EU agricultural products. At the Council, Lithuania protested against the Russian decision in increase from 5% to 40% customs duties on live piglets entering Russia. (L.C./transl.rt)