Russia, Poland to hold consultations over vegetable supply resumption - Onischenko
MOSCOW. July 6 (Interfax) - The Russian sanitary service has decided not to give the green light yet to Polish suppliers of fresh vegetables to the Russian market, bilateral consultations will be held on this problem.
"The decision on whether to allow Polish vegetable products to the Russian market is being postponed," head of the Russian consumer rights watchdog (Rospotrebnadzor) and Russia's chief sanitary official Gennady Onischenko told Interfax on Wednesday.
The list of Polish laboratories, which must confirm the safety of vegetable products, has raised doubts with Russia, he said.
Poland submitted a list of 17 laboratories, but then cancelled the document after it raised questions with Russia, he said.
"We instantly received a new letter mentioning just one laboratory. The lightness with which Poland changes its decision is extremely alarming," Onischenko said.
"We have agreed to a meeting on Friday with the Polish ambassador to Russia and a member of this country's government to clarify the real situation in the direct dialog," the Rospotrebnadzor chief said.
The Russian sanitary service is considering whether to allow vegetable products from eight more EU countries, including Greece, to the Russian market, Onischenko said.
"We examine the submitted documents to make sure that the stated laboratories are capable to guarantee the safety of their products," Onischenko said.
The total number of E.coli patients in Europe has topped 4,200, he said.
"The protracted outbreak of this dangerous disease makes the EU claims that Russia overreacted by banning vegetables import look even more absurd," Onischenko said.
It was agreed at the recent EU-Russia summit that European vegetables will return to the Russian market, provided that the safety of each consignment is confirmed.
Russia banned the import of fresh vegetables from the EU in early June. The move came after an outbreak in Europe, primarily, in Germany, of a dangerous intestinal infection. Russia agreed to resume imports on the condition of the product safety confirmed by EU laboratories and a certificate.
On July 1, Russia partially lifted the ban by resuming the import of fresh vegetables from Spain and Denmark. On June 28, Russia allowed vegetable supplies from the Netherlands and Belgium.
