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Russian watchdog tightens control over import of products from 40 Belarusian dairy, meat-packing plants

Russia’s food safety watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, has tightened control over the import of products from 40 Belarusian dairy and meat-packing plants.

A statement posted on the agency’s website said that the measure was needed to “prevent the import of dangerous animal products in veterinary and sanitary terms.”

The tighter control rules target such large plants like the Bellakt and Babushkina Krynka dairy plants, Minsk’s City Dairy Plant No. 2, and the Vawkavysk Meat-packing Plant.

While talking to reporters last week, Gennady Onishchenko, head of Russia’s federal consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, accused Belarusian dairy plants of falling short of the country’s food quality requirements.

He said that of the 27 samples of Savushkin Produkt products tested by the watchdog, 17 were found to fall short of Russia’s requirements. He said that two cheese products supplied to Russia by the plant contained “dangerous” anaerobic bacteria and mould.

Mr. Onishchenko also criticized the quality of products supplied to Russia by Minsk’s City Dairy Plant No. 1.

The situation is evidence that the “Belarusian side is not interested in civilized access to the Russian market,” the official concluded. //BelaPAN