Cablegate: Yet Another List- Russia to Require
VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHMO #3350/01 3241135
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191135Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 5404
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0801
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 4684
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 5234
UNCLAS MOSCOW 003350
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USDA FAS FOR OCRA/KUYPERS; OSTA/HAMILTON, BEAN
PASS FSIS/JONES, DUTROW
PASS APHIS/MITCHELL
STATE FOR EUR/RUS, EB/ATP/SINGER
STATE PASS USTR FOR CHATTIN
BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ
VIENNA PASS APHIS/TANAKA
GENEVA FOR USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD TBIO WTO RS
SUBJECT: YET ANOTHER LIST- RUSSIA TO REQUIRE
CERTIFICATION FOR FODDER ESTABLISHMENTS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
1.(SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary
and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS)
informed via official letter dated November 14,
that as of January 1, 2009, it will impose a
new requirement on the import of fodder and
fodder products. These products must come from
establishments that are certified by VPSS. The
original scanned copy of the VPSS letter and
courtesy translation were sent to FSIS on
November 18, 2008. An informal embassy
translation of the letter follows. END
SUMMARY.
(SBU) BEGIN TEXT:
FEDERAL SERVICE FOR VETERENARY AND
PHYTOSANITARY SURVEILLANCE
Orlikov per., 1/11,
107139, Moscow 84,
Russian Federation
Phone: (7 499) 975-4347
Fax: (7 495) 607-5111
E-mail: info@svfk.mcx.ru
http://www.fsvps.ru
Moscow, November 14, 2008
No. FS-AS-2/11553
Acting Assistant Administrator
Office of International Affairs
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
Dr. Ronald K. Jones
Dear Dr. Jones,
The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary
Surveillance Service (VPSS) extends its regards
to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS), and informs you of the following.
On December 1, 2008, VPSS intends to start
issue of import permits for imports of fodder
and fodder supplements for 2009. Complying with
the Russian legislation, fodder and fodder
supplements should be only imported from the
establishments that are certified by VPSS.
Starting January 1, 2009, import of fodder and
fodder supplements to the Russian Federation
will be allowed from the establishments that
are included by VPSS in the relevant list. In
this connection we ask you to send us lists of
U.S. establishments that produce fodder and
fodder supplements (selected in accordance with
the attached form), and that delivered their
products to the Russian Federation in past, and
that have valid contracts with the Russian
partners for delivering their products.
In addition we ask you to provide us guarantees
that these establishments are under permanent
supervision of the U.S. veterinary service and
that these establishments will implement all
Russian veterinary-sanitary requirements and
norms.
As soon as the mentioned lists are submitted,
VPSS will analyze them and will approve the
lists of the establishments-manufacturers of
fodder and fodder supplements that are eligible
to export their products from the U.S. to the
Russian Federation.
In addition we would like to inform you that
VPSS will have rights to inspect the
establishments. A decision about import of
products from these establishments will be made
on the basis of audit results.
Dr. Jones, please accept my assurances in the
deepest respect.
Attachment: on 2 pages.
Deputy Head
A.I. Saurin
Attachment to VPSS letter No. FS-AS-2/11553 of
November 14, 2008 (note: attachment included
the required form for listing establishments)
END TEXT.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: The latest VPSS
requirement adds fodder to the list of
products which must come from a facility
certified by VPSS. (Russia also requires
that pork, beef and poultry imports
originate from facilities certified by
VPSS.) Post anticipates facility
certification may shortly be added for fish
and seafood products, as fish and seafood
exports from the EU will be subject to this
requirement as of January 1, 2009.
According to US export statistics, fodder
exports to Russia from January-September
2008 totaled $12 million, up 46 percent from
the same period last year.
BEYRLE