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Russian sanitary inspectors arrive in Ukraine to inspect candy factories

Tuesday, the inspectors were to get down to familiarization with the technological and sanitary procedures at Roshen’s four factories and two laboratories

KIEV, October 22 (Itar-Tass) - Specialists of Russia’s Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection (Rospotrebnadzor) have arrived in Kiev to inspect the candy factories owned by Roshen Corporation, one of Europe’s major producers of confectioneries, well-informed sources told Itar-Tass.

Tuesday, the inspectors were to get down to familiarization with the technological and sanitary procedures at Roshen’s four factories and two laboratories that are not owned by the corporation.

The laboratories are controlled by the Lev Medved Research Center for Preventive Toxicology and Food/Chemical Safety and the All-Ukraine R & D Center for Standards, Metrology, Certification, and Protection of Consumer Rights.

A Russian source with fair knowledge of the situation said no comments were to be expected in the course of the inspectors’ work. Roshen press service executives also declined to comment on the inspection.

Agreements on the inspections were reached at a session of the Ukrainian-Russian committee for economic cooperation that was held the Russian city of Kaluga October 15, 2013. Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Foodstuffs, Nikolai Prisyazhnyuk said later he hoped the inspections would be over by November 1.

By that time, Rospotrebnadzor is expected to submit to the Ukrainian government a document on its vision of a possible resumption of supplies of Roshen products to the Russian market.

As of November 1, the corporation will be able to restart its exports to Russia.

Rospotrebnadzor imposed a ban on the imports of candies made at Roshen’s Ukrainian factories in the wake of a number of uncertainties pertaining to the quality of produce.

Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of confectioneries to Russia. According to the information provided by the Ukrainian Ministry of Revenues and Taxes, Ukrainian sweet markers exported 119,100 tons of chocolate products to Russia and earned almost $ 413 million.

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