The talks were held in a very good atmosphere. The parties  committed themselves to an expeditious resolution  of all problems in their agricultural products trade. Minister Sawicki underlined the role of the European Commission in  the search for durable solutions to the existent problems.

        The Russian side pledged to lift its restrictions on the import from Poland of animal products. This will take place on the day of signing of the Memorandum between the two countries, which is planned next week in Kaliningrad, during a meeting of veterinary service representatives of Poland and the Russian Federation. During the Kaliningrad meeting, Russian reservations concerning imports of fishmeal from Poland will also be discussed.

        The Russian Agriculture Minister upheld previous reservations about the presence of pesticide and artificial fertilizer remnants in imported plant products. In view of the fact that these reservations apply not only to imports from Poland, but also imports from other EU member states, the problem should be addressed both in relations with the respective countries and with the European Union. The relevant cooperation of the Polish and Russian phytosanitary services will be discussed during  a meeting of the Agriculture Ministers of Poland and Russia during the Grune Woche fair in Berlin, in mid-January.

        The Russian side agreed to recognize the Polish procedures for the control of exports to the Russian market by plants  which had not been previously controlled by Russian inspectors and which expressed interest in exports to the RF. This will apply to meat, dairy, fish and fodder plants.

        It was also decided to establish a working group to streamline exchange of information and expedite the resolution of any problems that might appear in the sphere of agriculture and agricultural trade.

        Minister Gordeyev declared that any restriction towards Poland connected with instances of avian flu would be of a regional character, as was the practice in relations with other European states.

Piotr Paszkowski
MFA Press Spokesman