December 8 2004, 12:04

Russian vet control service accuses US and Canadian authorities of smuggling dangerous meat products to Russia

Russia's federal agency for veterinary and phyto-sanitary control Rosselkhoznadzor does not exclude a possibility of introducing mass limitations for supplies of livestock products from USA and Canada, a spokesperson for Rosselkhoznadzor said on December 8.

"Should the US Agricultural Department and the veterinary service of Canada fail to provide information in the nearest time about investigation of the facts of departure to Russia of smuggled liver with counterfeited certificates, Rosselkhoznadzor will have to introduce large-scale limitations for imports of [North-]American livestock products. We have repeatedly applied to these authorities, but supplies of the prohibited products to Russia are continued. This can result in invasion into the country of the mad cow disease virus", the representative of the Russian authority said.

Russia has already introduced a ban for imports of beef and beef variety products from the US and Canada after they proved to be infected with the agent of mad cow disease, Prime-TASS agency informs.