Report Highlights:
A draft law published on the website of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development on July 5, 2013, proposes to transfer full authority over sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) control at the border to the Russian Federal Customs Service. This draft also implies the complete withdrawal of Rosselkhoznadzor and Rospotrebnadzor personnel from the border, Russia’s veterinary and sanitary services, respectively. Before it can go into effect, however, this law must be officially approved by the Russian Government and Duma, which can take as long as one year.
As of the date of the publication of this report, FAS/Moscow does not believe this measure has been notified to the World Trade Organization.
