Ukraine shuts down Belarusian border
- 1.03.2012, 12:08
Starting on 1 March Ukraine bans import of meat and dairy from Belarus because of African swine fever virus threat.
The Chief State Inspector of Veterinary Medicine of Ukraine Ivan Bisiuk temporarily banned the import from Belarus of animals that can get contaminated with African swine fever virus, as well as products and raw materials produced of these animals, the press-service of the Ukrainian State Veterinary service reports.
According to the press-service, the decision was stipulated by the possibility of African swine fever virus penetrating to Ukraine from Belarus. As glavcom.ua reports, the meat import limitations will last until all circumstances are clarified.
Moreover, starting on 1 March, the Ukrainian Veterinary service temporarily stops import of dairy products from Belarus because of systematic violations of the veterinary and sanitary requirements to the Belarusian production of the Ukrainian party.
During February 2012 the state veterinary and sanitary control of the dairy products imported from Belarus showed multiple violations of Ukraine’s veterinary and sanitary requirements. In particular, the maximal levels of concentration of veterinary drugs were exceeded in the Belarusian dairy products.
And this in its turn indicates regular violations and lack of control from the authority in Belarus regarding veterinary drugs and meeting the requirements of the importing country by Belarusian enterprises.
In mid-February in the village of Niaznanava in Navagrudak district in Belarus, the entire pig population of the private farms was withdrawn and eliminated. According to the statements of the Belarusian Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Veterinary and Food Control, this was done in educational purposes within a training course in African swine fever virus.
Nevertheless there is a risk of African swine fever virus coming to Ukraine from Russia via Belarus. Belarus is a member of the Customs Union which implies neither customs nor veterinary control at the state borders with Russia where the situation around African swine fever virus has been complicated during the recent five years.