Russia approves half of export applicants

  • 2004-09-02
  • Staff and wire reports
RIGA - Agriculture Ministry officials said last week that Russia's veterinary service had completed inspections at nearly all food producers in new EU member states but only half of the companies inspected would be allowed to export to the eastern country.

Thirty-four Latvian companies will be allowed to export their products to Russia after Sept. 1 - or 58 percent of companies inspected - including 25 fish processing plants, 14 dairies, five slaughterhouses, six cattle farmers, four meatpackers, two producers of specific products and two producers of animal feed.
Out of the 37 Estonian companies inspected, only 16 were approved for food export to Russia, while 31 out of 65 Lithuanian companies passed inspection, Russian agriculture supervision service head Sergei Dankvert said.
Among Latvian companies to pass the test were milk factories Rigas Piena Kombinats and Rigas Piensaimnieks, egg producer Balticovo and meat packer Ruks.
"We are glad that so many Latvian companies have passed the checks," said Food and Veterinary Service director Vinets Veldre. "Compared to other states we can claim that Latvia's indicator is the highest."
Raimond Strastin, deputy director general of Estonia's Food and Veterinary Board, said Russian inspectors had recorded such things as the absence of disinfection mats at the entrance of the meat processing companies' production areas as shortcomings, though this is not required under Estonian laws.
E-Piim, one of the dairies that was not approved, expressed its disapproval of the final list.
"This decision is an example that you cannot build your business plan on Russia," E-Piim manager Jaanus Murakas said. "That's no problem - we continue selling our goods to the EU," he added.
Olle Horm, CEO of Rakvere Lihakombinaat, the only Estonian meat processing company cleared, said the company hadn't made any special efforts to get an approval since exports to Russia haven't comprised a very significant part of its business.
Still, for the Baltics the results generally fell in line with other countries' approval rating. In Slovakia, only half of the 22 companies inspected were approved, while only four of the 20 Czech companies passed the inspection.
Maris Balodis, an official at Latvia's Food and Veterinary Service, said Russia had not yet informed Latvia which companies were approved by inspectors and thus would be allowed to continue working on Russia's market after Sept. 1.
The date was agreed upon between the European Commis-sion and Russian officials after Moscow unilaterally banned all imports from new EU members in June for lack of uniform inspection certificates from Brussels. In place, the EU had been hoping to leave an existing system whereby each member state issued certification to its own companies.
The temporary ban resulted in significant loses for food exporters - meat and dairy - particularly in the Baltics.
The EC has also reached an agreement with Russia that, henceforth, companies having received the EU veterinary certificate will also be allowed to export their products to Russia. This agreement may even take effect Oct. 1, while the issuing of veterinary certificates will remain in the competence of each member state.
Last week the EU and Russia agreed on the coordination of 14 different veterinary certificates worked out by both parties and covering most products exported to Russia.
"At this point the forms of 14 certificates have been approved that will have to be introduced in Latvia," said Balodis.