Press Release: EU-Russia deal safeguards trade in plant products

The European Commission, supported by the Luxembourg Presidency and a group of Member States chosen by the Council, on 15 March 2005 finalised a deal negotiated with Russia on a harmonised phytosanitary certificate for EU exports. Russia had warned that it would close its market to all plant products originating in the EU if a single plant health certificate for EU exports was not introduced by 1 April 2005. Intense negotiations had taken place since December 2004 when the Commission got the mandate to negotiate with Russia on behalf of the EU Member States. Both parties agreed to continue technical discussions on the implementation of the new certificates. A transitional period of three months was therefore agreed so that it was possible to use the old and new certificates in parallel.

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/92&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/92&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: DG Health and Consumer Protection: Overview: Plant Health http://ec.europa.eu/comm/food/plant/index_en.htm

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