MOSCOW, August 3 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rospotrednadzor) has stopped supplies of New Zealand milk products, i.e. the New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra, since August 3, chief sanitary inspector Gennady Onishchenko told Itar-Tass.
“We instructed all regional branches to retire and ban all types of Fonterra dairy from trade outlets,” Onishchenko stressed.
“By the end of the day we’ll give the instruction to customs services to prevent Fonterra products from crossing the border,” the chief sanitary inspector said.
Earlier, the Fonterra giant told several countries that its dairy could be infected with the bacteria, which could cause botulism - a toxic disease that affected the nerves. The company mentioned about 1,000 tonnes of products.
China’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to Quarantines instructed to withdraw Fonterra dairy from trade outlets.
According to chairman of the board of Soyuzmoloko Andrei Danilenko, the Fonterra giant ranks 2nd Belarus for milk powder supplies to Russia.
The Fonterra giant, which produces about 2 million tonnes of dairy, ranks fourth and exports its products to the markets of 100 countries, including Australia, as well as the countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.