Kyiv - Ukraine plans to begin official negotiations with Russia on its claims to the corporation Roshen and other Ukrainian confectionery products at the beginning of next week, Ukrainian Agrarian Policies and Food Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk told reporters on Thursday.
“To understand whether these claims are grounded and whether it is another trade war, we, of course, need to get the results of the tests which led to the claims,” Prysiazhniuk told before the Cabinet meeting.
The minister reiterated that this issue needs to be approached very carefully because “any comment may harm the negotiation process.” At the same time, he added that chocolate manufacturers and independent Ukrainian laboratories have already provided appropriate test results.
“We have no doubt that the standard and quality meet all norms,” Prysiazhniuk said.
“However, if the Russian authorities have claims, we are, of course, ready to receive them. The Economics Ministry has set up a working group and, as far as I know, plans to begin official negotiations with Russia on Monday,” the minister said.
On Monday, Rospotrebnadzor imposed a ban on the deliveries of confectionaries from Ukrainian facilities of Roshen corporation over improper quality.
Roshen operates confectionery factories in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Mariupol and Kremenchuk, Bershadmoloko dairy producer, a stud farm in Ukraine and also confectionary facilities in Klaipeda (Lithuania) and Lipetsk (Russia).
The company produces up to 200 types of confectionaries. Its total annual production volume reaches 410,000 tonnes.
