Moldova protests against Russian import ban of its meat, meat products

Russia's decision to ban the import of meat and meat products from Moldova is unfounded, said Wednesday Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumacov.

The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of Russia (Rosselhoznadzor) decided to ban the import of meat and meat products from Moldova into Russia starting from Oct. 27.

The Russian press reported that the Rosselhoznadzor made the decision after a mission of experts from Russia and Belarus inspected the Moldovan meat factories.

According to officials of Rosselhoznadzor, Moldova exports meat whose origin is not known as it is purchased from farmers or at village markets. The meat often does not meet the safety standards and there were cases when the veterinary certificates weren't authentic.

Russia is Moldova's second-largest trading partner after the European Union (EU), accounting for a quarter of Moldova's foreign trade.

In the first nine months of the current year, Moldova exported about 2,800 tons of meat in Russia.

Earlier Russia banned the import of wine, fruit and cans from Moldova and imposed customs duties on the rest of the imports from Moldova.

Russia imposed a ban on the import of Moldovan wine a year ago, while on the import of fresh and canned fruit this June, in response to the country's political and economic association with the EU.
Sources: Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
23/10/14
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