RUSSIA GRANTS EXTENSION ON NEGOTIATING

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001500

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

USDA FAS FOR OCRA/KUYPERS, RIKER; OSTA/BEAN,
HAMILTON, HAXTON; ONA/TING, SALLYARDS
PASS FSIS DUTROW, HARRIES
PASS APHIS BURLESON
STATE FOR EUR/RUS
STATE PASS USTR FOR CHATTIN, HAFNER, MURPHY
BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ
VIENNA PASS APHIS/MITCHELL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA GRANTS EXTENSION ON NEGOTIATING
NEW PORK CERTIFICATE

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In late January 2009, the
Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary
Surveillance Service (VPSS) expressed its
concerns in both a DVC and in a letter that the
veterinary certificate for the export of US pork
to Russia does not adequately reflect Russian
requirements. VPSS set a June 1, 2009, deadline
for renegotiating a certificate for frozen pork
and pork by-products exported from the USA.
However in response to appeals for an extension
by FSIS's Ronald Jones dated May 18, 2009 and by
Agriculture Undersecretary James Miller dated
June 3, 2009, VPSS advised via official letter
that the deadline for the negotiation of a new
veterinary certificate for pork has been moved to
August 1, 2009. An informal embassy translation
of the letter follows. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT:
FEDERAL SERVICE FOR VETERINARY 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, June 05, 2009
No. FS-GK-2/5463

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 Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS),
USDA and informs you for the following.

Keeping in mind the current situation and your
proposal placed in your letter of May 18, 2009,
VPSS considers it possible to extend deadline for
the negotiation of a new veterinary certificate
for frozen pork meat and by-products exported
from the U.S. to the Russian Federation until
August 1, 2009.

At the same time we would like to draw your
attention that if the negotiation of the document
is not completed before the aforementioned date,
VPSS will be obliged to consider a question about
imposing restrictive measures on the import of
pork and pork by-products from the U.S. to the
Russian Federation.

Dr. Jones, let me assure you of my highest
esteem.

Deputy Head
G.K. Kovalev


3. Background. In a letter of January 30, 2009,
the Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary
Surveillance Service (VPSS) expressed its concern
that in a DVC held on January 27, 2009, the
"American side did not assume the obligations to
implement the Russian veterinary-sanitary
requirements in shipments of pork to the Russian
Federation." In the same letter, VPSS set a
deadline of June 1, 2009 for a new version of the
veterinary certificate for US pork to come into
force. On February 10, 2009, VPSS sent its

proposed draft of the new version of a veterinary
certificate for frozen pork meat and by-products.


4. On May 18, 2009, USDA/FSIS sent a letter in
response requesting both a meeting in person with
VPSS and an extension of the June 1, 2009,
deadline. Sergey Dankvert, Head of VPSS,
complained during face-to-face meetings in Paris
on May 28, 2009 with both US government and with
US industry representatives that the US response
was delayed for too long. He maintained that
Russian pork producers selling to the domestic
market face more stringent requirements than do
US exporters of pork to Russia and that this is
not justified.


5. Comment: This is a long-standing irritant for
VPSS that goes back many years. Post recommends
that USDA and USTR get together to discuss an
appropriate strategy and response, well in
advance of August 1. End Comment.

BEYRLE