Denmark halts exports of breeding pigs to Customs Union
MOSCOW. May 18 (Interfax) - Denmark has launched an investigation into the death of breeding pigs while they were being transported to Russia, and has suspended exports of these animals to the Customs Union until the investigation is completed, Russia's Federal Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Oversight Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) said, citing the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
The Danish agency expects the investigation into the incident and the adoption of measures to prevent violations in future to take 15 calendar days, the Russian watchdog said.
Three shipments of breeding pigs intended for export from Denmark to Russia's Tambov Region were detained at the Belarusian border due to the death of 37 animals, which were removed during a transit stop in Poland.
"However, our Polish colleagues, without investigating the reasons for the death of the pigs, wrote it off by saying that the animals died of "transport stress," got overexcited, they said," Rosselkhoznadzor head Sergei Dankvert told Interfax earlier.
"We were not given information about whether samples from the dead animals were sent to a laboratory. Naturally, we don't have the results of mandatory diagnostic tests of the animal carcasses," Dankvert said.
Commenting on the decision made by the Danish veterinary service, Dankvert told Interfax on Thursday evening that the move was "absolutely correct."
"They have acted quickly before as well - quickly assessed the situation and made decisions, unlike the veterinary service of Germany, which always holds debates, and does not take steps to tighten control over shipments of animal products to Russia," Dankvert said.
He recalled that in 2011 Rosselkhoznadzor was forced to return 128 shipments of animal products from the European Union that did not meet veterinary standards. The Belarusian veterinary service returned 64 shipments in 2011. Almost half of the returned product came from Germany.
"It turns out that we are doing our German colleagues' job," Dankvert said.