Poland demands Russia explain suspension of meat import

POLAND - Poland has demanded that Russia give a full explanation of its reasons for suspending Polish meat imports as soon as possible, Polish Minister of Agriculture Krzysztof Jurgiel said Wednesday.

The Polish Agricultural Ministry will take all measures possible to restore meat and meat product exports to Russia as soon as possible, Jurgiel told reporters here.

The ministry will set up a trans-department group to deal with the crisis, follow its development and formulate relevant approaches, he said.

The ministry is also to send representatives to Moscow for consultations and then to report on the situation to the European Union, he added.

Russia announced on Wednesday that it was going to stop imports of Polish beef, beef accessories, pork, pork accessories, poultry meat, poultry giblets and meat half-products from Thursday, accusing Polish meat and meat product producers of breaking relevant Russian laws by using fake export licenses.

Source: Xinhuanet

10 November 2005