Brussels, 18/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou will travel to Moscow on Tuesday for a meeting with the Russian agriculture minister Alexei Gordeiev and head of veterinary services Sergei Dankvert. Concerned over the health conditions in Bulgaria and Romania, both of which have been affected by outbreaks of classical swine fever, Russian authorities have threatened to ban all animal products from the EU from 1st January 2007. The Commissioner has so far been unable to convince Russia that the measures taken by the EU to prevent the export of high risk products from Bulgaria and Romania would be sufficient. Russia has even suggested to some Member States that they negotiate specific agreements on European meat. On Monday, the Commission said that such negotiations came under its responsibility. (ab)