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Eurasian Economic Commission backs Belarus in dispute with Russian food quality watchdog

MOSCOW, 14 June (BelTA) – All members of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission believe that the Russian food quality watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has violated Eurasian Economic Union laws by restricting the import of several kinds of dairy products from the entire territory of Belarus. The statement was made by Director of the Agribusiness Policy Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission Stanislav Buben as he commented on the discussion of the situation around the export of Belarusian dairy products to Russia, BelTA has learned. The Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission discussed the situation on 13 June.

The official said: “On 13 June the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission discussed Rosselkhoznadzor’s temporary ban on the import of dairy products to Russia as from 6 June. All members of the Board agreed that Rosselkhoznadzor has violated Section 8, Article 58 of the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty. The section allows fully prohibiting the import of dairy products from an entire country if the epizootic situation in that country has deteriorated. Such deterioration has not been reported.”

In his words, since the draft resolution prepared by the Domestic Markets Department of the Eurasian Economic Commission does not fully meet Belarus’ expectations, Sergei Sidorsky, Member of the Board (Minister) for Industry and Agribusiness Complex of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), stated that the document needed adjustments. The minister suggested that the draft resolution should urge the Russian government to rescind Rosselkhoznadzor’s unlawful import ban. The draft resolution should also stipulate that Rosselkhoznadzor must observe the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty and the EEC Council resolution specifying how authorized government agencies of the sides have to proceed when temporary veterinary measures are to be introduced.

The Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission decided that the draft resolution will be polished within one week and will be discussed at the next session, said the official.

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