MOSCOW, 10 Feb — RIA Novosti/Prime. a Typical request of the National Union of milk producers (“Soyuzmoloko”) to the Minister of agriculture of the Russian Federation Alexander Tkachev, about the new decision of the Rosselkhoznadzor about the rules of transportation of milk, which supposedly can cause a problem Russian Molochnikov, caused a sharp reaction from the Department. It is suggested that the FAS test of milk producers, and journalists continue to be careful with the sources.
it is possible that the introduction document of the Rosselkhoznadzor would have passed unnoticed by the media, if the Executive Director of “Soyuzmoloko” Artem Belov said the newspaper “Kommersant” that the Agency decision “will have a negative impact on the dynamics of domestic prices of raw milk that will grow in regions with a lack of raw materials and fall in the regions with a surplus”.
the Possible rise in food prices has thrilled readers and raised the topic at the top lines of news ratings.
Cheese-like
it All started with the fact that “Soyuzmoloko” in early February sent a letter to the Minister of agriculture, stating concerns of milk producers due to the entry into force of the decision of the Rosselkhoznadzor for establishing the status of regions on infectious diseases of animals.
“Soyuzmoloko” wrote that according to the decision of the Ministry to all the subjects of the Russian Federation has the status of the ASF, anthrax and foot and mouth disease, and also establishes rules and prohibitions regarding the movement of animals and other controlled goods.
the Association indicates in his letter that for producers of raw milk of individual subjects of the Russian Federation new rules mean that their products cannot be supplied to the neighboring regions.
“the Restrictions imposed on the supply of raw milk from Tatarstan, the Belgorod, Volgograd, Rostov and Ulyanovsk regions and the Autonomous area (they became disadvantaged by anthrax) – new rules for supplies of these regions milk before shipment must be subjected to pasteurization. This in fact means a complete cessation of supplies due to the lack of the vast majority of manufacturers required to conduct this procedure,” notes the Union.
“This requirement is explicit in the extent of the excess raw milk… accompanied by veterinary documents, which confirm its safety and is subjected to compulsory heat treatment in the production of finished… products. In total significant limitations for the shipment of raw milk in other subjects of the Russian Federation was imposed on 25 regions of all 8 Federal districts”, — added in the letter Milkmen.
“the New rules and the constraints imposed by the decision, carry significant risks to both suppliers of raw materials and producers of finished dairy products” — believe in “Soyuzmoloko”.
the case
Ministry of agriculture, the head of which the letter was addressed, were limited to the message that “considers the letter” of the Union.
the Rosselkhoznadzor initially quite calmly reacted to the letter “Soyuzmoloko”, later changed his position and has made specific statement.
“the decision of the Rosselkhoznadzor, of course, cannot be the cause of rising milk prices. The position of “Soyuzmoloko” destructive, and obviously, they sow panic,” — said RIA Novosti press-Secretary of Department Yulia Melano.
“it is possible that here we have a cartel of milk producers that are members of the Union. This issue should be dealt with FAS”, she added.
a substantive Response
at the end of the day the most complete and official position of the Rosselkhoznadzor was represented by the Deputy of the head of service Nikolay Vlasov.
He pointed out that the Rosselkhoznadzor conducted a regionalization of the territory of the Russian Federation formally for 31 infectious animal diseases, and in fact on four diseases: African swine fever, infective nodular dermatitis, anthrax and foot and mouth disease — the other 27 are exotic diseases for Russia as a whole.
As the newspaper article States that the problem with the supply of milk may be associated with the absence of the majority of manufacturers required for pasteurization equipment, Vlasov noted that “we can conclude that we are talking about anthrax, because only against this disease in some cases, a provision on the mandatory pasteurization of raw milk and since both mentioned in the article subject of the Russian Federation have the status of disadvantaged by anthrax”.
Referring to the decision on regionalization of the Russian Federation on animal health, Vlasov indicates that if the herd were no cases of anthrax more than 20 days, and the animals from which the milk, a day milking is not sick with anthrax or something similar to it, that raw milk can move to any region.
“I Dare to hope that even Soyuzmoloko will agree that it is reasonable and not very onerous conditions. Moreover, neither in the Rostov region, either in Tatarstan cases of anthrax there long enough”, — stressed the Deputy head of the service.
If cow per day milking is not sick, but the herd was an outbreak of anthrax in less than 20 days ago, the pasteurization of milk is required. “The incidence of anthrax in Russia – a few cases per year (not counting the history of reindeer on the Yamal Peninsula last year, but it is a rare man-made incident). Where is take mass limit?”, — asks Vlasov.
Commenting on the idea that the decision of the Rosselkhoznadzor about regionalization may lead to a complete interruption of the supply of raw milk from Tatarstan and Rostov region, he recalled that the decision came into force on 1 February 2017. “Where that left off? If where-that something has stopped, for what reason?”, — continues the Deputy head.
“About the increase in prices will not even ask: very well want Soyuzmoloko to raise prices… though under some pretext. Certification will increase prices, regionalization – will increase prices, with the subsidies problem – prices will rise.. What are you gonna do? Capitalism in the yard, and still have the same people the right to choose,” concludes Vlasov.
the Lesser evil
Addressing the participants of the market, Deputy head of the Rosselkhoznadzor, pointed out that regionalization is one of the most important instruments for the maintenance of biological safety in the country and its export potential.
“Regionalization is a formal finding of a status of the regions on infectious diseases and measures to maintain status. Regionalization without restricting the movement of animals and other goods, which can be transmitted pathogens of infectious diseases is completely incapacitated and therefore senseless”, — says Vlasov.
“Time will limit from them, someone will suffer damage. But this is necessary to avoid the damage a thousand times more,” he adds. He, however, admits and errors in the work of the service.
“it is Important to avoid unnecessary restrictions. We try to keep it that way. But you can see what the scope of these documents? You must know what amount of work behind these hundreds of pages. Can we make a mistake, making another change in this decision? Of course you can: we’re not gods,” — said the Deputy head. He also urged to apply to the Rosselkhoznadzor for the solution of questions on the decision to regionalize.
