Business news

MINSK, 27 August (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in accelerating the certification of poultry factories for the sake of starting the export of poultry meat and derivative products to the European Union. The statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy as he met with European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis on 27 August, BelTA has learned.

According to the deputy prime minister, European specialists have inspected five Belarusian poultry factories, which intend to get certified, several times. The Belarusian side meticulously deals with the issues raised by European Union representatives, stressed Mikhail Rusy. Apart from that, Belarus counts on expanding the entire list of products authorized for export to the European Union and the resulting increase in mutual export and trade turnover.

Another issue raised during the meeting was the transit of Belarusian food to Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast. This transit is difficult right now.

“We are open and ready to resolve many issues, including those raised by the European Union, with regard to African swine fever and other areas,” noted Mikhail Rusy. He reminded that very tough measures were taken to deal with the problem after African swine fever was detected in Belarus in 2013.

Vytenis Andriukaitis underlined the dedication to cooperation with Belarusian authorities on matters of animal health. He suggested stepping up the exchange of information about oversight over the incidence rate in animals as well as cooperation in diagnosing such diseases.

Belarus-EU transboundary cooperation in animal health oversight has been going on for several years. “We intend to expand it, including by paying attention to African swine fever,” explained Vytenis Andriukaitis.