YEREVAN. - The delegation of Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance  (Rosselkhoznadzor) led by Deputy Head Nikolay Vlasov has arrived in Armenia on a two-day visit.  

The delegation members met with the Head of the State Service for Food Safety, Armen Hayrapetyan, and discussed the epizootic situation in the country, specifically the issues related to the preventive measures against the foot-and-mouth disease. In this regard, the interlocutors underscored the importance of vaccines against the new type of foot-and-mouth disease found in the republics bordering with Armenia. The talks on the new medication have been completed; it will arrive in Armenian by the end of March.

Nikolay Vlasov assured that Russia’s ban on import of raw meat and milk from Armenia is temporary and is applied in line with the principles of the International Epizootic Bureau (IEB), without limiting the import of processed meat and milk products.

Rosselkhoznadzor representatives also visited the Food Safety Risk Analysis and Assessment Research Center.

According to an intergovernmental agreement between Armenia and Russia, $5.8 million will be directed for the re-equipment of the Center by the end of 2017.