Brussels, 20 mar (EFE).-the European Commission has described today’s “disproportionate” and “unjustified” the embargo imposed by Russia the cattle of the EU, and has urged Moscow to lift it immediately given that its justifications do not conform to reality or to the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The European Commissioners of trade, Gucht Karel, and health and Consumer Affairs, John Dalli, expressed in a joint communiqué “deep disappointment” at the decision of Russia ban the import of live animals – pigs, sheep, goats and cattle – 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, these restrictions are not based, hence any form on scientific facts, the necessity or proportionality” denounces EU Commission.
The two Commissioners insisted that the embargo does not conform to the rules of the WTO or the formal commitment that Russia has taken during the negotiations on accession with regard to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
As a result, the Commission finds that Russia “sends a very negative message to your international business partners about its seriousness towards the WTO, taking into account that their accession to the organization still not been completed fully”, because the Duma has yet to ratify the decision of the countries members of the Organization last December to enter into force.
Both De Gucht as Dalli have written to Russian authorities to express the concern of the EU and to urge Moscow to refrain from “disproportionate” measures.
“The EC will continue to monitor the situation and will take advantage of every opportunity to ensure that Russia lifting of the unfair embargo,” noted both Commissioners.
The spokesperson for health and consumption Fréderic Vincent, noted at the press conference daily of the EC which last week held a meeting to explain to the Russians that their decision is based on the wrong elements, that the embargo affects mainly pigs, which have not been affected by the virus.
“If you want to know the real reason for the embargo, ask the Russians,” he said, and stressed that when a country takes a decision of this magnitude should rely on the WTO rules on animal health.
Highlighted, in addition, it has established that the virus Schmallenberg “does not represent an immediate threat to human health”.
The EU exported live animals amounting to 188 million euros to Russia, of which 75 million are affected by the ban which comes into force today, which impact mainly on exports of pigs and in the Baltic countries.
Russia, for its part, considers that in some EU countries such as Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom and France, the situation in relation to the epizootic Schmallenberg is very serious.
The virus, which is named after the German town of Schmallenberg, in North Rhine Westphalia, relatively close to the Benelux countries, was detected in the middle of last November in this core population in a deformed calf.
The virus, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment, produces congenital malformations in lambs and calves and causes fever, severe diarrhea and abortions in cattle. EFE
