The epizootic situation in Belarus with regard to the African swine fever remains safe, BelTA reports after speaking to Yuri Pivovarchik, First Deputy Director of the Veterinary and Food Oversight Department of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry.

In his words, the Veterinary and Food Oversight Department is now investigating the report sent by Russia regarding the detection of African swine fever genome in products made by the Minsk meat-packing factory.

Mr Pivovarchik said that Yevgeny Nepoklonov, Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of Russia (Rosselkhoznadzor), had called to say that African swine fever genome has been found in products made by the Minsk meat-packing factory and that the Belarusian ministry is now investigating.

For now, we have no complaints regarding the operation of the Minsk meat-packing factory, added Mr Pivovarchik. In his words, the company practices proper product quality and safety standards.

On 21 October, the Rosselkhoznadzor web site published information that the Russian side introduced temporary restrictions on supplies of meat products made by the Minsk meat-packing factory due to the detection of African swine fever genome in four out of five samples.