Phytosanitary lab starts working at Ukraine's Danube ports to examine exported grain

MOSCOW. April 17 (Interfax) - The Odessa regional phytosanitary laboratory has opened a second remote workstation at the Danube ports, Ukrainian media have reported with reference to the state food safety and consumer protection service.

"The opening of an additional remote location will help us speed up the testing, as delivering samples from the Reni port to Odessa takes a lot of time and delays ships at the port," Yekaterina Abuselidze, acting director of the Odessa regional phytosanitary laboratory, said.

The principal phytosanitary lab in Odessa receives from 20 to 150 samples a day for examination, while the remote lab is designed to conduct 20 daily tests, chiefly those of corn, wheat, sunflower, rapeseed, and soybeans intended for exports, Abuselidze said.

A daily shift of employees at the lab will include two phytosanitary analysis specialists and one specialist at the reception and documentation desk.

"This new laboratory should expedite the phytosanitary examination of grain, ensure uninterrupted work of agricultural enterprises, and improve the logistics of Ukrainian grain exports in the southern region," the service said.

The project has been implemented as part of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Economic Resilience Activity program. It provided the new laboratory with the essential equipment including microscopes, laboratory scales, a bactericidal irradiator, a water treatment system, a set of weights, a laboratory hood and refrigerator, and consumables for conducting daily phytosanitary examinations, such as Petri dishes, scissors, test tubes, gowns, and tips.