MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti economic commentator Vasily Zubkov) - Russian veterinary services have recently imposed a number of bans on imported meat, poultry and fish, causing all kinds of accusations - from protectionism to the use of trade for political ends.
But in reality, Russia is merely trying to protect itself against a flow of products unfit for consumption. Exporters of food to Russia have realized that it is no longer a refuse pit for inedible meat from all over the world.
A French colleague who writes on agricultural issues, in particular, on food exports from the European Union to Russia, has asked me recently about the reason behind numerous import bans. Are European foods so bad or are the Russian vets and customs being difficult? The answer is somewhere in between.
First, the EU eastward expansion has lowered quality standards and compliance with veterinary and sanitary standards. There is a huge gap in the agricultural level of the old and young members of the EU. Many agricultural producers are still below European standards. Nobody is saying that the EU's expansion has reduced the quality of food. The problem is that the farmers cannot sell poor quality foods in the competitive European market, and the produce that does not comply with rigid European standards is exported.
Second, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight has changed beyond recognition. The time of anarchy, grey imports, a mess with certificates, bribes to customs officials and sanitary inspectors, and one-day and one-contract companies has gone never to return.
Russia is steadily increasing its food imports, and not only because of a shortage of its own produce. The increasing living standards are changing the diet. As a result, Russia is importing several billion euros worth of foods. It could be importing even more if their quality did not leave much to be desired.
Almost daily, I receive e-mail messages from the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight about bacteria or toxic chemicals detected in imported products. Reading these reports is enough to make one sick.
I have learned numerous names of chemicals and mysterious diseases of flora and fauna, ranging from the now routine strains of avian flu, salmonella and foot-and-mouth disease to the exotic Newcastle and Bluetongue diseases, listeria species and Californian thrips. Surprisingly, they are arriving in Russia not from tropical islands but from the well-tended Europe, where pesticides have been banned for a long time now, and all pests destroyed. Some of them are re-exported to Russia from Europe. Thrips, for example, is not found in Europe, but arrives there with vegetables and flowers from third countries. The same is true of toxic chemicals - a high proportion of pesticide called methamyl was detected in the Peruvian grapes that the Netherlands exported to Russia through the Hispa Fruit company.
Despite the assurances of European veterinary officials, the quality of foods exported to Russia has not improved. Last March alone, Russian inspectors barred 20 batches of bad EU meat (178 tons), dairy (10 tons), and fish (135.5 tons) products. In addition, they stopped frozen fish from France that crossed the Russian border together with chicken breasts, and four meat containers that left the Netherlands with accompanying documents for frozen vegetables.
Some products change their origin at the border or have no documented origin whatsoever. Some 113 tons of apples and 16 tons of greens almost landed in a Moscow market. Grown in Poland and registered as Lithuanian, they contained a high content of cadmium, chlorpyrifos, and dimethoate - an absolute no-go.
All in all, since the start of 2007 Russia has imposed temporary restrictions for different export violations on agricultural companies from the United States (four meat-processing firms), France (one), Germany (11), Belgium (one), Spain (one) and the Netherlands (three). The Dutch plants NL5033EG, NL5029EG and NL5014EG supplied minced chicken meat with salmonella agents. Temporary sanctions have also been introduced against dozens of Latin American and Asian companies.
What explains so many transgressions of export rules? Commenting on the situation, Sergei Dankvert, head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight, explained that before March 1, 2007 Russian inspectors monitored the quality of meat and other foods in the countries of origin prior to their exports. Having received guarantees from the European Commission on Food Safety on produce exported to Russia from the EU, Russia recalled its veterinary inspectors from Europe. But the number of violations has not decreased. "We are sick and tired of asking our colleagues in the European countries that supplied inedible products to conduct inquiries and prevent such cases from happening in the future. But it seems they do not want to listen to us," Dankvert complained bitterly.
There are other examples of the same attitude. The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight addressed Paola Testori Coggi, deputy head of the Directorate General on Health and Consumer Protection, with a request to make sure that each European exporter presents its 2007 plan for monitoring traces of prohibited and harmful substances in animal products and fodder, as well as monitoring reports for 2006 until March 31, 2007. This is a lawful and routine requirement. The Russian agency warned that it would suspend imports from those countries that failed to produce the required papers.
Needless to say, nobody sent anything by the deadline. Reluctant to exacerbate the problem of food exports that has acquired a political tinge in the West a long time ago, Russia has decided to grant the exporters more time for paper work. But this cannot go on like that forever. The patience of Russian vets is not unlimited.
Incidentally, sometimes the exporters are grateful to the Russian vets for production defects they discover. In this case complaints are dealt with and satisfied, and temporary restrictions lifted. This is true of those companies that value their prestige, brand name, and national image more than short-term profits. Thus, after the Canadian cattle producers dealt with complaints of the Russian vets, limitations on their exports were lifted. The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight has expanded a list of Argentine meat suppliers and Scandinavian fish exporters.
But some companies take a contrary approach. One Italian exporter supplied Russia with inedible beef trimming. It tried to cover its tracks by registering the meat as French imports bound for Russia. Another example is the import of old meat to Russia from Hungary through Poland and Ukraine.
I would like to say a few words about the ban on meat exports from Poland that has caused a political scandal in Europe and become a major headache for Russian diplomats in the EU. The veterinary and phytosanitary Russian-Polish commission completed its work in Poland in February. It was checking several agro-industrial companies that export their produce to Russia. The Poles have fulfilled many Russian requirements, and removal of sanctions is a matter of time. Before making a final decision Russia has suggested monitoring the Polish producers together with EU experts to avoid any bias.
The European producers may be upset with the Russian vets for what they think are exaggerated food safety concerns or may prefer to deal with other consumers. But they will have to acknowledge that Russia is no longer a refuse pit for the whole world. Import requirements will be as rigid in Russia as they are in Europe. I believe the Russian consumers deserve this.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.
