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Anti-Russian sanctions

Russia exposes large-scale channel of illegal pork supplies from Europe

All supplied pork products to Russia bore labels of non-EU states, but it turned out that the labels and accompanying certificates were forged, agricultural watchdog head Sergey Dankvert says

© ITAR-TASS/Ruslan Shamukov

MOSCOW, October 16. /TASS/. Russia’s agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor exposed a chain of illegal pork supplies from Europe that up to date channeled 7,500 metric tons of pork production after Moscow introduced food sanctions in regard to the West over two months ago, watchdog's chief Sergey Dankvert said on Thursday.

“This channel has been exposed on Wednesday and as of today it was used to bring to one of the Customs Union’s member states 7,500 metric tons of pork products since the introduction of sanctions,” he said. Besides Russia, members of the Customs Union are Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Dankvert said all supplied pork products to Russia bore labels of non-EU states, but it turned out that the labels and accompanying certificates were forged. According to Dankvert, such volume of supplies would be impossible if not for the acquiescence of European veterinary services.

“It is impossible without the help of veterinary services to transport from Europe such volume (of products) under the label of another country, otherwise it speaks about the total lack of control,” Dankvert said, adding that the chain of illegal supplies at the issue could have also existed before the introduction of sanctions.

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