Given repeated deliveries of poor-quality meat products to Russia from the EU in 2006, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision said it "had asked the veterinary services of a number of European countries to enhance controls and prevent violations of Russian veterinary and sanitary standards for exports of meat products to Russia."
The watchdog said it had proposed that each EU country submit plans for 2007 to monitor the levels of prohibited and dangerous substances in animals, meat products and feed, and to report on relevant monitoring for 2007.
The watchdog also said that some meat deliveries from the EU "fail to meet Russian veterinary standards for 2007."
Russia's November 2005 ban on meat and other agricultural imports from Poland led the EU newcomer late last year to veto the launch of negotiations on a new trade and energy cooperation deal between Moscow and Brussels to replace the current partnership accord, which expires at the end of 2007.
