YET ANOTHER LIST- RUSSIA TO REQUIRE

UNCLAS MOSCOW 003350 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USDA FAS FOR OCRA/KUYPERS; OSTA/HAMILTON, BEAN PASS FSIS/JONES, DUTROW PASS APHIS/MITCHELL STATE FOR EUR/RUS, EB/ATP/SINGER STATE PASS USTR FOR CHATTIN BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ VIENNA PASS APHIS/TANAKA GENEVA FOR USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD TBIO WTO RS SUBJECT: YET ANOTHER LIST- RUSSIA TO REQUIRE CERTIFICATION FOR FODDER ESTABLISHMENTS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 1.(SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) informed via official letter dated November 14, that as of January 1, 2009, it will impose a new requirement on the import of fodder and fodder products. These products must come from establishments that are certified by VPSS. The original scanned copy of the VPSS letter and courtesy translation were sent to FSIS on November 18, 2008. An informal embassy translation of the letter follows. END SUMMARY. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT: FEDERAL SERVICE FOR VETERENARY AND PHYTOSANITARY SURVEILLANCE Orlikov per., 1/11, 107139, Moscow 84, Russian Federation Phone: (7 499) 975-4347 Fax: (7 495) 607-5111 E-mail: info@svfk.mcx.ru http://www.fsvps.ru Moscow, November 14, 2008 No. FS-AS-2/11553 Acting Assistant Administrator Office of International Affairs USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Dr. Ronald K. Jones Dear Dr. Jones, The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) extends its regards to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS),and informs you of the following. On December 1, 2008, VPSS intends to start issue of import permits for imports of fodder and fodder supplements for 2009. Complying with the Russian legislation, fodder and fodder supplements should be only imported from the establishments that are certified by VPSS. Starting January 1, 2009, import of fodder and fodder supplements to the Russian Federation will be allowed from the establishments that are included by VPSS in the relevant list. In this connection we ask you to send us lists of U.S. establishments that produce fodder and fodder supplements (selected in accordance with the attached form),and that delivered their products to the Russian Federation in past, and that have valid contracts with the Russian partners for delivering their products. In addition we ask you to provide us guarantees that these establishments are under permanent supervision of the U.S. veterinary service and that these establishments will implement all Russian veterinary-sanitary requirements and norms. As soon as the mentioned lists are submitted, VPSS will analyze them and will approve the lists of the establishments-manufacturers of fodder and fodder supplements that are eligible to export their products from the U.S. to the Russian Federation. In addition we would like to inform you that VPSS will have rights to inspect the establishments. A decision about import of products from these establishments will be made on the basis of audit results. Dr. Jones, please accept my assurances in the deepest respect. Attachment: on 2 pages. Deputy Head A.I. Saurin Attachment to VPSS letter No. FS-AS-2/11553 of November 14, 2008 (note: attachment included the required form for listing establishments) END TEXT. ¶2. (SBU) COMMENT: The latest VPSS requirement adds fodder to the list of products which must come from a facility certified by VPSS. (Russia also requires that pork, beef and poultry imports originate from facilities certified by VPSS.) Post anticipates facility certification may shortly be added for fish and seafood products, as fish and seafood exports from the EU will be subject to this requirement as of January 1, 2009. According to US export statistics, fodder exports to Russia from January-September 2008 totaled $12 million, up 46 percent from the same period last year. BEYRLE