Moscow, Baghdad Agree on Certificates for Russian Meat Supplies - Watchdog

Moscow and Baghdad have agreed to approve veterinary certificates for the supply of Russian meat to Iraq by the end the first quarter of 2016, Russia's agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Following the talks, both sides expressed readiness to expand cooperation in agriculture, and agreed to cooperate on the exchange of experience in the cultivation of cereals, Rosselkhoznadzor said. The Russian side noted the high interest in the restoration of the supply of grain production to the Iraqi market.

"The parties also agreed to intensify cooperation in the sphere of supplies of Russian products of animal origin to the Republic of Iraq and to agree by the end of the first quarter of 2016 on veterinary certificates for the export of Russian beef, poultry, ready-made meat products," Rosselkhoznadzor said in a statement.

The discussion on the issue was held during the Russian-Iraqi Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which met for the first time in eight years in Baghdad on Thursday. The talks focused on the economic cooperation, the fight against terrorism and the current developments in the Middle East.