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Ukrainian minister to visit RF in April to discuss cheese supplies

Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Minister Pyotr Poroshenko will visit Russia in April to discuss the resumption of Ukrainian cheese supplies to the country’s market

KIEV, April 11 (Itar-Tass) — Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Minister Pyotr Poroshenko will visit Russia in April to discuss the resumption of Ukrainian cheese supplies to the country’s market, the ministry’s press service reported on Wednesday.

“The first results are expected to be available upon completion of the minister’s visit,” the press service said.

Poroshenko said the schedule for checking Ukrainian cheese was being maintained. Ukrainian enterprises submit all necessary documentation. Progress has been achieved in setting up laboratories for controlling Ukrainian products in its export to Russia. “Ukrainian products should comply with Russian standards and regulations,” Ukrainian minister said. He stressed, “Milk processing factories’ equipment meets these requirements.”

Russia’s consumer rights protection authority banned imports and sales of dairy products made by seven Ukrainian companies, namely Prometey, Chernigov region; Piryatinsky cheese dairy and Gadyachsyr, Poltava region; Bashtansky cheese dairy, Nikolayev region; Lozovsky cheese dairy, Kharkov region; Khmelnitsky butter and cheese dairy, Khmelnitsky region; and Belle Shostka Ukraine, Sumy region.

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, Ukraine annually exports 500 million U.S. dollar worth of cheese to Russia, and the latter is the largest market for Ukrainian-made cheese.

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