Russia expects Tunisia to approve veterinary certificates for imports of Russian meat products

MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - Russian plant and animal health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor is waiting for Tunisia's veterinary service to approve veterinary certificates for imports of meat products from Russia and inspections of the Russian system of veterinary assurance of animal product production and sales.

This was announced at a meeting between the advisor to the head of Rosselkhoznadzor, Vasily Lavrovsky and the acting director of border control at Tunisia's Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries Ministry, Olfa Shin that was held as part of a Russian business mission to Tunisia, the watchdog reported.

The conditions for granting Russian animal products access to the Tunisian market were discussed at this meeting.

Lavrovsky said Russian businesses are ready to export poultry meat, beef, lamb, processed meat products made from poultry, beef and sheep and goat meat, as well as plant-based pet food to Tunisia, the agency said.

Rosselkhoznadzor, in turn, will conduct an inspection of Tunisian fishing companies interested in exporting their products to Russia.

Russian exports of agricultural products to Tunisia have increased by eight times in the past five years, officials said during the mission. The main exports are wheat, barley and sunflower oil, but there is also potential to export animal products.

The Russian Agriculture Ministry's Agroexport Center, one of the organizers of the mission, estimated that Russian agricultural exports to Tunisia could increase by a third compared to 2023 and reach $400 million in the near term.