Russian vets to check Australian seafood plants

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor will check Australian meat and fish processing plants interested in supplies of their fish products to Russia. The decision has been agreed at the recent talks of the Russian vets with a representative of Australia's Ministry of Agriculture in the European Commission, according to RIA Novosti.

During their trip to Australia the Russian vets will also study the legislative basis of the Australian control and surveillance bodies responsible for food safety issues. Besides, the Russian vets will visit respective laboratories and certification centres.

At the negotiations Rosselkhoznadzor has shown special interest in Australia's system of active cooperation of state control and surveillance bodies with the nation's associations of producers, traders and consumers.

The Russian vets will come to Australia on a business trip in December 2007 after the parliamentary elections in the country or in January 2008.