Russia blocks supplies of poultry meat from Ukraine to third countries
Industry representatives in Ukraine and Uzbekistan have suggested the decision may have political undertones, as it is not the first time Rosselkhoznadzor has blocked imports of poultry to the Central Asian republics.
According to official information from Rosselkhoznadzor, two trucks containing meat products from Dnepropetrovsk and Gubinsky poultry farms on 2 and 4 March were stopped at the Troebortnoe border checkpoint between Russia and Ukraine and were not allowed to continue across the border.
A spokesperson for Rosselkhoznadzor, for the Bryansk and Smolensk Oblasts, stated that, in addition to the problems with veterinary certificates, there were also packaging rule violations in regards to the transit of these goods.
"Firstly, the documents were issued incorrectly. Secondly, products were not properly packaged. As part of the requirements such products must be housed in an impenetrable outer pack. So theoretically these product could have been repacked and mixed with other products and even sold in Russia," said the Russian veterinary body’s press service.
The Ukraine Association of Poultry Producers has not commented on the situation.
Rosselkhoznadzor has previously prevented transit supplies of Ukraine poultry products to neighbouring countries. In April last year, the veterinary body returned five rail wagons containing 188t of chicken from Ukraine’s largest poultry producer MHP – which was also due to be supplied to Uzbekistan. The main reason given for the decision was the violation of veterinary certificates.
Market representatives in Ukraine claimed the decision by Rosselkhoznadzor had a political background, with the aim of preventing the development of bilateral trade between Ukraine and other countries in the post-Soviet Union space.
According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, the trade in poultry meat and poultry products with Central Asian republics has significantly increased, despite these incidents. For example, supplies of Ukraine poultry products to Uzbekistan last year rose by 2.6 times year-on-year to 15,000t.
Russia does not currently import poultry from Ukraine. However, the representatives of Rosselkhoznadzor denied all claims that the decision was based on politics. "Of course, not. If the documents are in order, then all the shipments will pass [the border control], and the growing volumes of supply of poultry products from Ukraine to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan is evidence that we have not put any obstacles in the way of the developing meat trade between these countries," said the press service for Rosselkhoznadzor.
