UK begins audit on Ukraine's zoning against avian flu

MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has launched a remote audit of surveillance, prevention and control measures against avian flu and Newcastle disease, which are being implemented by the Ukrainian State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

These measures are being enforced to recognize the zoning of Ukraine's territory for highly pathogenic avian flu, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Ukrainian consumer health watchdog's press service.

"We are confident in the ability of our territorial bodies and reference laboratories to provide all measures and procedures needed to guarantee safe international trade and stand ready to present all stages of this chain to foreign partners. As a result, Ukrainian producers will have new opportunities to expand the geography of exports," State Consumer Protection Service head Sergei Tkachuk said.

It is noted that the zoning of Ukraine's territory for highly pathogenic avian flu will enable domestic producers to supply poultry products of their own production from avian flu-free areas of the country, even taking into account the current quarantine restrictions in those areas where cases of the disease have been recorded.

The State Consumer Protection Service noted that the system of national control over avian flu in Ukraine has been repeatedly evaluated by inspectors of competent authorities of trading partner countries, in particular, the European Union, the United States, Japan, Canada, and China in recent years. The system of national control over avian flu introduced in Ukraine thus has been recognized as effective.