Russia stops EU meat and dairy trucks at border
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Russia unexpectedly stopped all meat, dairy, and feed trucks from the EU at its borders on Wednesday.
Finnish deliveries were also stalled over Russia's refusal to recognise old veterinary certificates.
The dispute centres around discussions between Russia and the EU on a new veterinary treaty, which would apply to all EU member states. Until now Russia has signed bilateral agreements with each individual EU country. The agreements ran out in early May, after the EU took on ten new member states. However, the existing agreements were extended to the beginning of this month.
Now all deliveries of dairy products, meat, and animal feed require special authorisation from Russian authorities before they are let into the country.
Discussions have continued all spring, but little progress has been made.
Initially Russia announced that as the EU expands to the countries of Eastern Europe, EU food safety could be adversely affected, which is why it called for a new agreement.
Russia also demanded reciprocity. If the EU wanted to export food to Russia, Russia wanted to deliver goods to the EU on the same terms. The EU could not accept this, because Russia’s food inspection system, animal disease control, and vaccination programmes were not up to the European standard.
Russia also wanted to treat the entire EU as a single area, which means that an outbreak of a contagious disease affecting pigs in Sardinia, for instance, would give Russia an excuse to block all imports of all EU pork.
A spokesperson for Finland’s foodstuffs industry feels that Russia is deliberately trying to block imports of food in order to boost the country’s own production - even though the country is not self-sufficient in food.
Russia is also expected to use the situation as leverage when it negotiates over terms for membership in the World Trade Organisation.
Veijo Meriläinen, head of exports at the dairy producer Valio, denounces Russia’s policy as short-sighted.
Finland exports about EUR 200 million worth of dairy, meat, and feed products to Russia each year.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 3.6.2004 - TODAY |
 Russia stops EU meat and dairy trucks at border |
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