Russia testing "WTO-style vet controls" on Faroe Islands fish exporters to Russia-led Custom Union

During recent talks with Faroe Islands Russia's vet watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) said that under the current conditions the body should at first review the inspection system of the exporting country for its compliance with the OIE Codes and Codex Alimentarius for individual types of products. Using this approach, the European Commission has been evaluating Russian poultry meat production system for 7 years already while for other commodities in which the EC was more interested, for example, for venison or fish the issue was solved more quickly. By comparison, previously Rosselkhoznadzor could give a certain credit of trust to veterinary services of exporting countries and include new plants in the List against their guarantees, reports http://www.megafishnet.com/ based on FSVPS late June statement.

According to Rosselkhoznadzor, the talks between Yevgeny Nepoklonov, Deputy Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor, and Bardur Enni, Executive Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service of the Faroe Islands were arranged at the initiative of the Faroe Islands which requested the Rosselkhoznadzor to include their plants in the list of plants authorized for the export of fish to the markets of Russian and other CU countries under the guarantees of the Veterinary Service of the Faroe Islands. Currently, the Faroe Islands have been supplying about 30 ths tons of high quality fish to the Russian market.

In response Yevgeny Nepoklonov explained that it was not possible as the Customs Union rules provide for the extension of the list of third country suppliers only under condition of a unanimous approval of veterinary services of all CU members. Besides, Yevgeny Nepoklonov noted that Russia's accession to WTO requires harmonization of approaches to veterinary surveillance with leading trade partners of Russia, in particular, with the European Union. And while previously we could give a certain credit of trust to veterinary services of exporting countries and include new plants in the List against their guarantees, under current conditions the Rosselkhoznadzor should at first review the inspection system of the exporting country for its compliance with the OIE Codes and Codex Alimentarius for individual types of products.

Using this approach, as Yevgeny Nepoklonov mentioned, the European Commission has been evaluating Russian poultry meat production system for 7 years already while for other commodities in which the EC was more interested, for example, for venison or fish the issue was solved more quickly.

As regards the Faroe Islands plants engaged in salmon procession Russia welcomes the consignments from 10 plants inspected by the Rosselkhoznadzor. Yevgeny Nepoklonov emphasized that the veterinary service of the Faroe Islands should take into account the deplorable experience of their neighbours. Thus, inspection of 13 Norwegian fish processing plants revealed severe non-compliances which prevented them from exporting to the Russian market.

Speaking about the food safety system in place in the Faroe Islands Bardur Enni explained that salmon processing plants were inspected four times per year and each consignment was subject to laboratory control which results were reported to the Rosselkhoznadzor. Certificates for each consignment are issued on special forms with a high degree of counterfeit protection.

Yevgeny Nepoklonov particularly noted the need for an integrated approach to safety. In particular, it is critically important that transport vessels delivering the commodities were certified and equipped with temperature control devices and Satellite Consignment Tracking System. In this connection the Veterinary Service of the Faroe Islands should improve its procedures ensuring safety of products intended for the Russian market and inform the Rosselkhoznadzor on the measures taken.