Milk deliveries still stuck

VILNIUS - The issue of Lithuanian dairy imports to Russia remains unresolved despite efforts made by Lithuania, reports ELTA.
On Nov. 21, Director of Lithuania’s State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) Jonas Milius and Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phyto-sanitary Surveillance Sergey Dankvert had a phone conversation to discuss restrictions imposed on Lithuanian dairy exports and the audit of Lithuanian dairy companies to be conducted by Russian experts.

“I have expressed my position on the planned audit to Mr. Dankvert. I am fully convinced that Lithuanian milk processing companies comply with the requirements of both the European Union and Russia, and that they could allow Russian auditors to observe the process any time. However, I would like to draw the attention of [my] colleague to the fact that such an audit would not be objective or expedient. As long as Lithuanian milk producers cannot export their production to Russia, and we do not have an official answer as to when this ban will be lifted, dairy products intended for Russia’s market are not being manufactured; therefore, auditors would have simply no possibilities to assess the appropriateness of manufacturing processes,” said the head of Lithuanian VMVT.

On Oct. 7 Russia’s federal service on customers’ rights protection and human well-being surveillance Rospotrebnadzor suspended dairy imports from Lithuania to Russia.