“It will never be the same for Ukrainian meat producers again. The gates will no longer be open for everyone,” Ivan Bisiuk, the head of Ukraine’s State Veterinary Department, said during an Oct. 11 press conference.

In accordance with a protocol signed by Russian and Ukrainian veterinary authorities in Moscow Oct. 4, Ukraine was required to submit by Oct. 10 a list of domestic meat-processing plants that want to export beef to Russia.

Now these plants are being inspected for certification by officials from Russian veterinary agency Rosselkhoznadzor, jointly with their Ukrainian colleagues.

If given the green light, the Ukrainian exporters will be able to deliver only beef to Russia, and only using two crossing points: one for trucks and one for railway transportation.

Under the conditions of the protocol, Ukraine is obligated to provide reports on its beef production and information about the meat it imports from third countries, “including imports through free economic zones.”

In addition, Ukraine must provide state guarantees that the meat in each shipment it exports to Russia is of Ukrainian origin, in addition to regular veterinary documentation.

Source: kyivpost.com