National News

Another 12 Belarusian companies granted Russia’s meat import permits

The Russian Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision has permitted another 12 Belarusian meat-packing companies to supply their make to Russia, BelTA learnt from Alexander Konon, deputy head of the central veterinary department of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry.

According to the source, the import permits have been granted to Bereza, Borisov, Volkovysk, Grodno, Slonim, Pinsk, Vitebsk, Glubokoye, Minsk state-run meat-packing factories as well as private producers Vitebsk-based Globan, Brest-based Beldansan, Eurotrade (Brest). Official letters signed by deputy head of the Russian food watchdog Yevgeny Nepoklonov have been sent to Belarus’ oblast administrations to inform that the aforementioned Belarusian companies are permitted exporting their meat products to Russia as from May 16.

BelTA has been told, the list of licensed Belarusian meat exporters will be expanded after companies the Russian food watchdog examined in March-April have fixed their faults. The faults the Russian agency found were mainly technical and did not concern the quality or the safety of the make. Nevertheless, representatives of the Russian Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision stressed, the Russian side will continue demanding the observance of ecological and food safety standards by companies, which export their make to Russia.

A team of experts of the Russian food watchdog is now staying in Belarus for a regular inspection of Belarusian meat-packing companies. This time they are examining companies in Gomel and Mogilev oblasts and are intent on visiting several Belarusian poultry producers. The Russian food watchdog has no major complaints about Belarusian fisheries, added Alexander Konon.