Agro Perspectiva

Yushchenko urges Yanukovych to improve stockbreeding condition

13.04.2007 09:04 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — As of Apr 11, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has addressed letter to Premier Viktor Yanukovych asking him to adopt urgent measures for country stockbreeding state improving, reported President press-service. As to report, in his letter Yushchenko expressed concern over Ukrainian domestic meat/meat products market current situation; President was as well worried about Ukrainian stockbreeding potential having started shortening. In part., President admitted that within last 6 years country cattle number had fallen by 34% (incl. cows number — by 32%). As to him, situation was additionally aggravated with 2006 stockbreeding products purchase prices 11.2% drop (though 2006 domestic consumer market meat sale prices had declined only by 1.9%). «These negative tendencies have strengthened in 2007,» says letter. President mentioned he was appealed to by Ukrainian companies/public organizations, which as well confirmed aggravation of abovementioned problems. «Country companies are especially worried about growth of meat shipments transported through special economic zones and priority development territories as well as meat resources illegal shipments to Ukrainian territory. In 2006, State budget has lost about UAH1.3 milliard due to customs/taxation privileges having been renewed for some separate importers. Losses caused by nonpayment of taxes and entry duties, caused by meat resources illegal import, were as well significant,» says Presidential letter. Besides, Yushchenko reminded that experts affirmed imported meat was of low quality, resulting in problem of its safety becoming still more acute for Ukrainian population. As to State Committee for Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy (State Standard) data, in 2006 experts considered unsafe/prohibited to sell 59% of all inspected meat articles offered for sale. In his letter Yushchenko emphasized he was worried as well about problems of payment of 2006 subsidies to agricultural producers for cattle/poultry sold for slaughter/processing. He said payment of 2006 subsidies indebtedness by means of 2007 State budget can lead to appearing of same indebtedness already at end 2007. As to Yushchenko, problems of stockbreeding products export growth so far remain unsolved; he admitted country 2006 stockbreeding products export was  50% down against 2005. «I earnestly ask you to give orders to adopt urgent measures for settling of abovementioned problems,» says letter. It is to be reminded, Apr 11 Cabinet had imposed temporary (from May 1/07 till Sept 1/07) ban on Ukrainian give-and-take meat resources import.