Macedonia to Export Meat and Dairy Products to Russia

[George S.]

Macedonia to Export Meat and Dairy Products to Russia
Thursday, 04 June 2015

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/27515/45/

Macedonian dairy and meat products will be able to be exported in Russia. To meet requests in order export to be realized and to create protective mechanisms against the misuse of exporting produces in Russia with fake Macedonian certificates, a memorandum was signed Thursday by Macedonia’s Agriculture Ministry and Food Agency and Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.

The memorandum at technical level should regulate veterinary and phytosanitary conditions and requests for domestic food operators willing to export goods in Russia, which was a point of discussion for quite a while. Twelve operators so far have filed export request to the Food Agency that are set to undergo an inspection by a Russian committee in late August or early September. It is expected export of goods to start by the end of the year.

The objective is to secure more markets for Macedonian products to be promoted there, according to Minister of Agriculture Mihail Cvetkov. “On markets in Russia our produces, meat and meat products and milk and dairy products are not sold and thus we are making efforts to be able to sell them. We also face problems with the issuance of fake certificates of other countries in accordance with the ban of import of produces from the EU. Our certificates are being used to export these produces in the Russian Federation,” said Cvetkov after signing the document.

Under the memorandum, huge opportunities for export and strategic partnerships with domestic food operators are being opened, it was said. Russia’s requests in general cover food safety and confirmation that products are from Macedonian origin.

Macedonia will get almost unrestricted access to the Russian market and to those other markets in the Euroasian Economic Union, according to Aleksey Alekseenko – assistant chief of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.

It was also agreed data to be exchanged and the Russian agency is also prepared to assist in establishing electronic systems, including certification, laboratory tests, etc. The goal is also to prevent Macedonian certificates from being used illegally.

Alekseenko praised the high quality of Macedonian products. “There is also high potential for development. At the moment it isn’t used to the fullest. Macedonia could become a major exporter of produces.”

Moreover, the memorandum creates conditions to deliver Macedonian goods on the Russian market, which is being realized in the long run. “It means that Macedonian producers of produces can plan their activities in the long-term. This is also very important for the country’s economy, job creation, expansion of investment efforts, etc,” stated Russian Ambassador Oleg Shcherbak.

Macedonia-Russia trade exchange in 2014 compared to 2013 increased by 92.8%. It is expected 2015 to be better than last year.

[George S.]

Russian Market open for Macedonian meat and dairy

Russian Market open for Macedonian meat and dairy
September 9, 2015

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/28052/1/

Microbiological validity, detection of the presence of food contaminants and residues and the use of raw materials – which should be generally produced in Macedonia, but it is also allowed to originate from countries that export goods in Russia – are the key conditions required to be met by Macedonian companies in order to sell products on the Russian market.

This was stated by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Mihail Cvetkov and the director of the Agency for Food and Veterinary, Zoran Popovski after a visit paid on Wednesday to a leading meat packing plant in eastern Macedonia, MIK Sveti Nikole.

Following controls by Russian teams conducted since July, it has been concluded that of 15, only three companies or four plants for meat products are meeting the required criteria. The remaining establishments – nine in the dairy industry and six in the meat industry – are urged in the next 60 days to correct the detected shortcomings.

“With 8,000 employees in the meat industry, if Macedonia manages to produce quality products for a price that is competitive on the market, then all export barriers are lifted and new markets are available,” stressed Minister Cvetkov.

The Food Agency, its director said, will help manufacturers implement requirements needed to export goods in Russia.

“Macedonia’s legislation is adjusted to the European one and is partially different from Russian legislation and thus efforts must be made in this regard and provide conditions required by our Russian peers,” Popovski said.

Macedonia so far only exported fruits and vegetables in Russia as a new opportunity is being opened for the meat and dairy industry, according to the chair of the Macedonian-Russian Chamber of Commerce.

“The business community together with the institutions has unlocked the doors and now it is up to the companies to plan their production process in order to be able to export more products in Russia,” stated Dejan Besliev.

Statistics offer different figures involving Macedonian-Russian exchange of goods – according to Macedonian data, trade exchange with Russia in the first six months of 2015 was $13.9 million, while Russian statistics suggest it stood at $46 million.