Brussels, 20 mar (EFE).-the European Commission has today qualified the embargo imposed by Russia the livestock from the EU “disproportionate” and “unjustified”, and has urged Moscow to lift it immediately since your justifications do not conform to the reality nor to the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

the Commissioners of health and Consumer Affairs, John Dalli, and European trade, Karel De Gucht, in a joint statement expressed “deep disappointment” over the decision of Russia to ban the import of live animals – pigs, sheep, goats and cattle bovine-coming from the European Union, due to the spread of the new virus Schmallenberg in Europe.

“trade in these animals from the EU in no way has endangered the health of Russians and these restrictions are not based, thus in no way in scientific facts, the necessity or proportionality”, denounces European Commission.

the two Commissioners insisted that the embargo does not conform to the rules of the WTO or the formal commitment that Russia has assumed during negotiations on accession with respect to sanitary measures and phytosanitary.

as a consequence, the European Commission considers that Russia “sends a very negative message to your international business partners about its seriousness towards the WTO, taking into account that its accession to the organisation still not completed fully”, since the Duma has yet to ratify the decision of the countries members of the organization in December to enter into force.

both De Gucht as Dalli have written to Russian authorities to express the concern of the EU and urging Moscow to refrain from “disproportionate” measures.

“EC will closely monitor the situation and will take advantage of all opportunities to ensure that Russia lift the unjustified embargo,” noted both Commissioners.

the Health and consumption Frederic Vincent, spokesman said at the daily press briefing of the EC which last week held a meeting to explain to the Russians that their decision is based on the wrong elements, since the ban mainly affects pigs, which have not been seen affected by the virus.

“If they want to know the real embargo reason, ask the Russians,” pointed out, and stressed that when a country takes a decision of this magnitude should be based on rules of WTO on health animal.

stressed, in addition, that has been established that the Schmallenberg virus “does not represent an immediate threat to human health”.

EU exports live animals worth 188 million euros to Russia, of which 75 million are affected by the ban which comes into force today, which mainly impacts on exports of pigs and countries Baltic.

< p> Russland, ihrerseits ist der Auffassung, dass in einigen EU-Ländern wie Deutschland, den Niederlanden, Belgien, Großbritannien und Frankreich in die Schmallenberg epizootischen Situation sehr ernst ist.

Virus, welches den Namen der deutschen Stadt Schmallenberg in Nordrhein-Westfalen, relativ nah an den Benelux-Ländern erhält wurde Mitte November in dieser Population Kern in ein Kalb deformiert erkannt.

Virus, für den es weder eine Impfung noch eine spezifische Behandlung gibt, Ursachen Geburtsschäden in Lämmer und Kälber und verursacht Fieber, schweren Durchfall und Abtreibung bei Rindern. EFE