Brussels, 14/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the Agriculture Ministers of the EU supported efforts European Commissioner Markos Kyprianou (Health and Consumer Protection) and the Luxembourg Presidency have been making for many months to resolve phytosanitary and veterinary problems with Russia. They took note of the signature, expected for Tuesday, of an agreement between the Commission and Moscow on export procedures for European vegetable products to Russia. As it has also done for animal products, Russia has called for a harmonised certificate in all Member States of the EU to be brought in no later than 1 April for the export of vegetable products, and is threatening to ban all imports of these products if agreement is not reached by then.
At the Council, Member States recognised that the agreement on the phytosanitary certification of vegetable products will help to put an end to Russia's long-standing threats to impose a general embargo on these products. Assurances, however, will be sought that this agreement will lead to the lifting of blockages imposed by the Russians in the fields of vegetable products, the Member States in question emphasised; but Moscow does not appear to subscribe to this reasoning. Russia is currently blocking vegetable products originating in Germany, Denmark and Estonia and is threatening to block those from Belgium, Spain and Poland. The agreement may bring in a transition period of three to five months to allow the Member States' authorities to bring in an export certificate.
In the veterinary field, since 1 January 2005 the EU has brought in a harmonised certificate for meat exports to Russia, but several Member States including Germany, France and Denmark, repeated their complaints about the presence of Russian inspectors on their territory. Whilst refusing to reopen negotiations on this, the Commission raised the possibility of discussing this as part of negotiations for Russia's accession to the WTO. France reminded the Council of the Russian authorities' block in its exports of pork meat.