Ukraine has appealed for help to keep its food control system running during the Russian invasion and called for less strict trade measures to boost exports. These calls were made about how the conflict with Russia was affecting food safety, plant health, and animal welfare via a statement at a recent World Trade Organization meeting.
The infrastructure of the State Food and Consumer Service of Ukraine, its institutions and laboratories have been damaged and the country appealed for assistance to replace destroyed veterinary and phytosanitary labs.
Up to half a million tons of imported plant products, including vegetables, fruits, cereals, flour, planting material and other goods have been inspected in the past three months. However, Ukrainian officials said conducting state veterinary and sanitary inspection and control in the temporarily occupied territories of the country was “impossible”.
The statement accused Russia of stealing grain from Ukrainian territory, tampering with certificates and attempting to sell it as their own on international markets. It urged countries to not buy grain from Russia if there was no certainty about its origin.
Source: foodsafetynews.com