Russia�s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said that a protocol on sanitary requirements for Russian cattle meat earmarked for export to Iran may be signed next week.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) � A protocol on sanitary requirements for Russian cattle meat earmarked for export to Iran may be signed next week, Russia�s agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said Saturday.

"The final approval and signing of the protocol on the sanitary requirements for the important of cattle meat is planned at the first meeting of the working group on veterinary and phytosanitary issues from February 29 to March 1 in Tehran," the watchdog told RIA Novosti.

Russian beef makers would be allowed to begin delivering their products to Iran once the protocol is signed, Rosselkhoznadzor said.

The watchdog added that it expected Iran to offer a similar draft agreement on poultry meat in the near future.

Iran�s veterinary organization experts visited Russia twice this year to test Russian control systems in beef and poultry production.

Rosselkhoznadzor said the organization approved meat exports, but first raised the requirement to agree on protocols reflecting sanitary requirements for poultry and boneless cattle meat imports.

The Russian watchdog received a draft protocol relating to cattle meat in mid-February, then analyzed and offered its commentary to the document.
By Sputnik News