March 1, 2012, Ukraine introduced a temporary ban on import of dairy and meat products from Belarus, as well as the animals susceptible to African swine fever (ASF), products and raw materials from them. According to the official report of the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine, "several violations of veterinary and sanitary requirements of Ukraine were revealed in February 2012 when exercising state veterinary and sanitary control of dairy products imported from Belarus to Ukraine."
In particular, the Ukrainian Gosvetfitosluzhba identified the excess of the maximum permissible levels of veterinary drugs residues in milk products of the Belarusian producers. "This, in turn, suggests systemic violations and lack of control by the competent authority of the Republic of Belarus on the use of veterinary drugs and compliance with the requirements of the importing country," the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine.
In this case, Gosvetfitosluzhba of Ukraine reminds that "February 16, there were seized and killed (burned) all pigs of private farms in the village of Neznanova, Navahrudak district, Hrodna voblast of Belarus." According to the statements by the Ministry of Agriculture of Belarus and the Department of Veterinary and Food Control of the Republic, these measures were taken in the exercise of ASF control.
"In case of ASF pathogen entry into the territory of Ukraine, there may also be banned grain exports, killed a large number of pigs, as well as more restrictive measures may be taken, thus, causing negative economic consequences," the Ukrainian Ministry.
The Ukrainian Gosvetfitosluzhba notes that Belarus and Russia have no customs and veterinary controls at border crossings due to the fact that the countries’ membership in the Customs Union. In Russia, in particular, there has been a difficult situation with the epizootic of African swine fever over the past five years, added in the Ukrainian Ministry.
"Given the significant number of outbreaks of this disease in the Central (the border with the Republic of Belarus) Federal District of Russia last year, the case in the village of Neznanova is likely to have been triggered by the entry of the ASF pathogen in the Republic of Belarus," suggested the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine.
The situation in Russia and the uncertainty about the ASF in Belarus pose a threat to biosafety in Ukraine, reported in Gosvetfitosluzhba.