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Ukraine expects apology from Russian chief public health official

Gennady Onishchenko must apologize for his comment on the Ukrainian intention to entrust the veterinarian service with food quality control

KIEV, January 10 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Chief Public Health Official Gennady Onishchenko must apologize for his comment on the Ukrainian intention to entrust the veterinarian service with food quality control, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grishchenko said on the Twitter on Tuesday.

“The comment of Russian Chief Public Health Official Gennady Onishchenko concerning Ukraine has been spread widely. Why does he mind the European control methods we are introducing? I cannot understand that. Anyway, it would be the best for Onishchenko to make a public apology,” the minister said.

A source at the Ukrainian State Veterinarian and Phytosanitary Control Service said that Ukraine was switching from the Soviet food quality control system to the European one. “This does not mean that veterinarians will control the quality of foods of plant origin or baby food. Specialists from other agencies will be attached to the new service and do that,” he said.

The Ukrainian parliament also disagreed with the opinion of Onishchenko. “The opinion of the Russian chief public health official that the transfer of the food quality control function to the veterinarian service might allegedly have negative consequences is nothing but a provocation, which is also devoid of appropriate reasoning,” Viktor Korzh, a member of the Party of Regions and deputy head of the Parliamentary Healthcare Committee, said.

Powers of the State Veterinarian and Phytosanitary Control Service were broadened by the example of the European Union, and the service would control the quality and safety of food across Ukraine, he said. Also the Ukrainian government has decided to form a food control model of the EU standard, Korzh said.

In the opinion of Onishchenko, the move may cause problems in the delivery of Ukrainian food products to Russia.

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