Why Can't Poland Cure The Russian Meat Ban?

Warsaw, Poland 17 January 2007 - Russia banned the import of meat from Poland because of falsified veterinary certificates and not because of the quality of meat. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last November that Moscow had no claims against Polish meat, but objected to products of third countries imported via Poland. Why can't the Polish Government get control of the issuance of veterinary certificates?

Russia has seized meat crossing its borders with falsified meat certificates.

A shipping firm was likely involved. Someone paid for the shipment. There should be documents.

The exporter should be able to be traced.

And through the exporter, the person or entity that issued the veterinary certificate should be able to be traced.

The Kaczysnki Governmet established, with a great deal of fanfair, an anti corruption office. It seems that this office should be looking into the corruption might be found at the borders and in the various government agencies that have jursidictlion over the issuancel of the verterinary certificates and their control at the borders.

The problem lies in Poland and with the Polish Government's lack of control.

But Poland is blaming Russia and forcing the EU into helping it get the Russian ban lifted.

There is no indication that if Russia lifts the ban that the illegal trade will stop. And there is no indication that Poland is even trying to do anything about it.

There is probably corruption somewhere and that is not the EU's problem to solve. The EU should be asking Poland why it can't control the issuance of verterinary certificates. After all, meat with false certificates may be going into the EU as well.

The ill will that Poland has generated is now kicking back and hurting Poland.
Source: masterpage.com.pl