Does the Ministry of Agrarian Policy block the introduction of compartmentalization as a mechanism for exporting pork in the conditions of ASF?

Today despite some efforts of veterinary services African swine fever is rapidly spreading. This causes irreparable damage to the Ukrainian pig industry and the economy of the state as a whole, as it hinders the possibility of exporting pork. Manufacturers have to work in such conditions, when you need to walk on the blade of a knife, so as not to lose your business.

Compartmentalization is a guarantee of the company's operation even in the conditions of ASF. This mechanism will allow to resolve the situation with the ban on the export of Ukrainian pork and support domestic producers. This is not a plan for anti-epizootic measures. The concept of compartmentalization is much broader and represents an effective tool for biological security.

In world practice the procedure of compartmentalization has long been implemented. Livestock farms are divided by the degree of biological protection. That is, those enterprises that have the necessary level of protection against the penetration of the disease into the territory, receive the status of safe, and this in turn allows free trade.

The Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association headed by Iryna Palamar actively supported the introduction of the procedure of compartmentalization. Moreover, together with the scientists, the head of the USBA analyzed in detail the features and advantages of such means of protection (in detail https://usba.com.ua/irina-palamar-kompartmentalizacia-ce-mozlivist-eksportu-ukrainskoi-svinini-nezvazauci-na-acs).

Within the framework of the struggle against ASF the Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association together with scientists and representatives of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection have developed a Program to combat ASF for the next 5 years. It is a pity that today the profile ministry ignors the problems of the livestock farmers in Ukraine, because until now the Ministry of Agrarian Policy has not responded properly to such initiatives.

Moreover, back in December 2017, the Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association appealed to the first deputy of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy Maksym Martynyuk with a request to support and coordinate the draft order of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy "On the introduction of compartmentalization" in the shortest possible time, based on the public significance of this act and the tense epizootic situation on the territory of Ukraine, distribution of ASF. However, ignoring the current legislation, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy did not provide any response.

Two more appeals on behalf of the Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association were sent to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine in December 2017. In particular, in the first letter the head of the Association asked Mr. Martyniuk to support and coordinate the draft order of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy "On approval of the Instruction on keeping pigs in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases", which aims to ensure the epizootic well-being of Ukrainian pig farms. In addition, this act clearly regulates the relationship between the service of veterinary medicine and business entities regardless of the form of ownership, the production of agricultural products of guaranteed safety and quality. The second letter concerned the draft order "On Amending the Instruction for the Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever", which ensures the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of ASF disease in case of taking measures to eliminate the disease in the protection zone.

The Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association has not received any response to these appeals.

The Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association asked for comments the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy about the reasons for this ignoring the requests of cattle breeders. But the press service said that they just do not give such comments. This requires the permission of the First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Maksym Martynyuk. Permission for an official comment is needed to explain why is the law violated? This is something new. Apparently, like the concept of "manual press service." Also, we were advised to apply through the Ministry's office with the next request, which will be answered in a timely manner.

In February 2018 the USBA again sent three requests to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy on the coordination of draft orders on compartmentalization. Only on April 3, once again having addressed in a telephone mode to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, it was possible to hear the answer of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.

In the end, officials of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy said that in the process of drafting the draft act "On the introduction of compartmentalization" it was established that there is no legal basis for resolving this issue. In this regard, the indication of the relevant sections on compartmentalization in the draft orders of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy "On approval of the Instruction on the content of pigs in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases" and "On Amending the Instruction for the Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever" have no legislative grounds. Therefore, the adoption of the above-mentioned acts is possible only after the legislative settlement of the compartmentalization procedure in Ukraine.

This position of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy is very strange, since all three draft orders - "On the implementation of compartmentalization", "On approval of the Instruction on the content of pigs to prevent the spread of infectious diseases", "On Amending the Instruction for the Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever", which provide for the introduction of compartmentalization in Ukraine, were developed by the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, which is subordinated to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, and apparently their preparation was initiated on behalf of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy .

For example, even in the Explanatory Note to the Draft Order "On the Approval of the Instruction on the Maintenance of Pigs for the Prevention of the Spread of Infectious Diseases," it is said that the draft order was developed by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy jointly with the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection in pursuance of paragraph 16 of Protocol No. 2 of November 17, 2014 of the meeting of the State Extraordinary Epizootic Committee with CMU.

To date, the position of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy in the context of the introduction of compartmentalization in Ukraine is passive. If, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, before adopting three draft orders, it is necessary to legislatively regulate the procedure of compartmentalization in Ukraine, then why the Ministry of Agrarian Policy does not initiate the development of the necessary legislative act to help farms in the field of pig production.

When the Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association asked the Ministry of Agrarian Policy in a telephone mode, will the Ministry develop the necessary legislative act, the Ministry said in a calm tone that the Cabinet did not give any instructions to develop a relevant project that would resolve these issues. In general, there is no such initiative today.

And at this time the pig producers of Ukraine are waiting and are suffering losses, because compartmentalization for today is the only opportunity for the export of Ukrainian pork. This mechanism allows farms in the conditions of the ASF to remain active participants in international trade.

Outbreaks of ASF in Ukraine are very difficult to predict. However, we are able to approve the elementary rules for pig farms that will allow us to keep farms from destruction. The Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association will continue to fight for the interests of pig farms, no matter how difficult it may be.

Prepared exclusively for Biz.censor.net: https://biz.censor.net.ua/columns/3060989/chi_bloku_mnagropoltiki_mehan….