Moscow asks Kiev to stop pork, grain export from infected regions

KIEV, Aug 14 (PRIME) -- Russia has unofficially asked Ukraine to restrict export of pork and feed grain from regions where risks of African swine fever (ASF) infestation is high, Alexander Verzhikhovsky, acting head of Ukraine’s veterinary and phytosanitary watchdog, said at a meeting with government commission on Friday.

“Under international legislation, our agricultural partners may prohibit export of product from a troubled region, a ban on exports of feed grain is the worst of all for Ukraine,” he said.

Russia also asked the watchdog to hold a videoconference in order to show actions undertaken to fight African swine fever.

Regions with high risks of infestation may include the whole territory of the country, but the official hopes that exports from only six regions will be banned, including the Kiev, Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Rivne and Zhytomyr regions, Verzhikhovsky said.

Earlier in August Russian business daily Vedomosti reported that the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight may introduce a ban on pork imports from Ukraine due to an outbreak of the African swine fever. Russian pork producers have already sent a letter to Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachyov seeking to suspend Ukrainian imports.

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