Brussels, 28/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Markos Kyprianou, informed the agriculture ministers of the Member States of the EU on Monday of the results of his recent visit to Moscow, where he discussed veterinary and phytosanitary issues between the EU and Russia with the Russian authorities. Mr Kyprianou pointed out that although a single certificate in veterinary matters had been in place since the beginning of the year, trade is disturbed by the slowness of Russian inspections in EU animal production premises and dairy processing plants exporting to Russia. Mr Kyprianou also pointed out that like in the veterinary field, the Russians are calling for a single phytosanitary certificate to be brought in by 1 April, threatening to block exports of vegetable products if the issue is not resolved by then. Mr Kyprianou indicated that the EU and Russia had committed to bring in a new system, with a possible transition period. France spoke out against a problem of blocking French exports of pork meat to Russia.
By request of France, the Luxembourg Presidency has agreed to hold a more in-depth debate on these problems with Russia at the forthcoming Agriculture/Fisheries Council on 14 March.