Brussels, 08/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, Russia's Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev announced that his country will continue to insist that the EU bring in a single uniform certificate by 1 October, for all of its meat exports to Russia. Moscow understands that replacing national certificates with a Community certificate cannot be done overnight, and that a transition period will be required, but believes that this could be done by 1 October at the latest, said Mr Gordeyev, quoted by press agency Interfax. The Commission continues to affirm that it is not possible to create a Community certificate. "The Member States are responsible for the implementation of veterinary and sanitary legislation for exports, and they must sign the certificates they issue for their national operators on the basis of this European legislation. The Commission will never be entitled to sign Community certificates for all of the Union's exporters. That is not how the Union works", explained Commission sources. However, as it said last week when the suspension of imports from the EU was lifted (see EUROPE of 5 June, p.8), the Commission is prepared to talk to the Russians with a view to finding ways of further harmonising certain aspects of the current system or to bring clarifications and extra assurances, should these be needed.