Belarus will temporarily suspend pork imports from Montenegro and Moldova from 1 November, according to the Belrusian news agency, BelTA, citing the Veterinary and Food Control Department of the Agriculture and Food Ministry of Belarus.

The ministry explained that the inspection of the Moldovan enterprises manufacturing animal products carried out by Customs Union specialists from 13 to 17 October detected serious and systematic violations of the veterinary and sanitary requirements and norms of the Customs Union.

The National Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Moldova failed to control the safety and traceability of meat products of Moldovan companies. A similar conclusion was made after the inspection of the Montenegrin enterprises carried out by the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance from 5 to 11 October.

“In this light Belarus took a decision to temporarily suspend the import of pork and products of its processing from Moldova and Montenegro on 1 November. However, the restrictions do not apply to meat in half-carcasses and quarters from Montenegro (if these are branded properly),” the ministry said.

Products covered that were dispatched to Belarus before 1 November will be delivered to the Belarusian companies only after a complete inspection of the incoming pork and pig breeding products for the virus of African swine fever.

BelTA reports the ministry saying that the inspection of the Montenegrin company, Pantomarket DOO, revealed that it supplied meat products to Belarus manufactured in the EU and disguised as its own. In this connection Belarus decided to suspend imports of the products of this company from 1 November. Besides, the products of the Pantomarket DOO company currently stored at Belarusian processing enterprises are subject to withdrawal.

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