Rosselkhoznadzor held talks with the competent department of South Africa on mutual cooperation in the field of veterinary supervision

The Russian side handed over copies of questionnaires with materials for assessing the risk of exporting beef, pork and poultry MEAT from RUSSIA to South Africa. Our South African colleagues said that they would promptly analyze them and hold a video conference with representatives of the ROSSELKHOZNADZOR in the next two months to determine the order of consideration of these documents. 

Colleagues from South Africa also said that the issues of attestation of Russian enterprises and the harmonization of requirements for the import of livestock products will be considered after the analysis of the risks of previously provided materials. 

In addition, the Russian side invited the South African side to Russia to get acquainted with the enterprises of the FGBI "ARRIAH" in order to develop scientific and technical cooperation in the field of control, prevention and eradication of animal diseases, including the EXPORT of veterinary vaccines to the South African market. 

Foreign representatives expressed their gratitude for this proposal and asked to send a draft document on such cooperation, which the Russian department will send in the near future. 

Regarding cooperation in the supply of veterinary vaccines to the South African market, the South African side said that it was ready to consider such cooperation and would send the necessary information in the near future. 

At the same time, the Rosselkhoznadzor was provided with information and materials on the access of fish products to the South African market and in the near future they promised to provide updated requirements for grain and its processed products imported into the country, vegetable oils, organic grain products, as well as for the use of pesticides and agrochemicals that were identified during the supply of South African fruits and vegetables to Russia.

In order to be able to supply zoo animals from some regions of South Africa, Rosselkhoznadzor, in connection with the unstable epizootic situation in South Africa on animal diseases, requested up-to-date information on the epizootic situation in South Africa on especially dangerous and transboundary diseases (including BSE, bluetongue, lumpy skin disease, PPR, African plague horses, etc.). 

Also, the South African side promised to send its comments on the draft veterinary certificate for the supply of sheep embryos from South Africa to the Eurasian Economic Union, which was proposed by the Russian side, in the near future. 

Foreign colleagues asked to expand the supply of avocados to the Russian market, as well as to start deliveries of nuts and ginger. The Russian Service reported that at the moment there are no restrictions on the supply of fruits and vegetables from South Africa to Russia. 

In conclusion, the parties exchanged direct contacts for operational cooperation and agreed to keep in touch both directly and through the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation in the Republic of South Africa.