ExPla to deepen cooperation at European level

The members of the European Platform of exporters of bovine genetics (Exporters' Platform, ExPla) have agreed to a deepening of their cooperation at European level. At their meeting on 13 October 2010 in Brussels in the premises of ADT they decided that the ExPla will in future meet in two working groups, the one taking care of the export of live cattle, and the other of the trade in bovine semen and embryos.

At the meeting, the attendants, who represented exporters from France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Austria and Germany, discussed with two representatives of the Directorate General for Health and Consumers (SANCO) of the European Commission about a possible impact of the proposed new EU Animal Health Law on the export of cattle genetics to Third countries. Another focus of the meeting was an exchange of information with representatives of the relevant units in DG SANCO and DG Trade, which are responsible for bilateral trade relations with Third countries, focussing among others on the process of negotiating veterinary certificates and on the implications of the recently established Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.