RUSSIA THEATENS FODDER TRADE

UNCLAS MOSCOW 003760

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: RUSSIA THEATENS FODDER TRADE

REF A) MOSCOW 3350

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary
and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS)
raised the bar in requesting a list of U.S.
fodder exporters to Russia in its December 26,
2008, letter by threatening to ban U.S. fodder
exports if a list is not produced by January 1,

2009. The original scanned copy of the VPSS
letter and courtesy translation were sent to USDA
on December 29, 2008. An informal embassy
translation of the letter follows. END SUMMARY.

2.(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, December 26, 2008
No. FS-NV-2/13281

Dr. Robert Tanaka,
Area Director for Eastern Europe, USDA-APHIS


Dear Dr. Tanaka,

The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary
Surveillance Service (VPSS) extends its regards
to the Animal and Plant Inspection Service
(APHIS),USDA in the EU, and informs you of the
following.

By its letters #FS-AS-2/11553 of November 14,
2008, and FS-NV-2/12384 dated December 5, 2008,
VPSS informed about the necessity for providing
lists of the U.S. processing fodder and fodder
additives facilities that previously exported
their products to the Russian Federation and
currently have contracts with the Russian
partners for shipping such products, and as well
as guarantees that these facilities are under
permanent control of the U.S. veterinary service
and that they will fulfill in the full scale
Russian veterinary-sanitary requirements and
norms.

However, to date the U.S. side has not
provided to VPSS the above mentioned lists of the
U.S. establishments. This circumstance will
create a serious barrier to trade of fodder
between our countries since VPSS will not be able
to issue import permits for shipments of fodder
for 2009 from the U.S. to the Russian Federation
until the mentioned materials have been provided.

Please accept, Mr. Tanaka, assurances of my deep
respect for you.


Deputy Head
Vlasov



END TEXT.


3. (SBU) Comment. Since November, VPSS has been
aggressive in demanding lists for both fish and
fodder. In the case of fish, the United States
explained that it does not maintain exporter
lists but agreed to verify a list provided by the
Russians. This action, coupled with an
invitation to inspect U.S. fish facilities
averted a ban on U.S. fish. USDA may want to
consider a similar approach and offer to verify
a Russian list contingent on a method for adding
additional exporters to such a list. VPSS maintains that
the list approach is necessary to control
fraudulent export certification. End Comment.






BEYRLE