The Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry is ready to hold another round of talks soon in the wake of Russian inspections of Belarusian food processing enterprises, BelTA learned from Alexander Subbotin, Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister, Director of the Veterinary and Food Oversight Department.
The official said: “An inspection by specialists of the [Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of Russia] Rosselkhoznadzor ended last week. We had a working meeting with Russian specialists yesterday. The group was led by Deputy Agriculture Minister Yevgeny Nepoklonov. We made our comments regarding the first stage of the inspections. The report turned out to be rather large — 2,013 pages with photos. The report provides well-reasoned answers to every remark made by our Russian colleagues, with photos attached. The colleagues told us they needed several days to study the materials and make the final conclusion. As far as the second round of inspections is concerned, the Russian side will prepare a report with possible remarks by Thursday-Friday and we are going to work with them.”
Alexander Subbotin noted that the date of the next meeting with Russian colleagues has not been set in stone yet. “But there are plans to arrange the next meeting very soon. It may happen on Thursday, Friday, or possibly next week. We are ready for negotiations on any platform once any information is available,” he explained.
In May 2017 representatives of the Russian food quality watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor inspected 13 Belarusian companies, which process milk, meat, and fish. The specialists checked raw material zones, farms, labs, district veterinary stations, and the food producers themselves.
Rosselkhoznadzor's previous inspection team worked in Belarus in April for nine days. Five groups of Russian specialists inspected 18 Belarusian enterprises back then. Restrictions on exporting merchandise to Russia were lifted from two Belarusian companies — Veles-Mit and Babushkina Krynka — as a result of that inspection.