Baltic Assembly Resolution on the cooperation of veterinary, phytosanitary and food inspection services

BALTIC ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION On the Co-operation of Veterinary, Phytosanitary and Food Inspection Services The Baltic Assembly, noting the need to harmonise the legislation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the field of veterinary medicine with that of the European Union and the improvement of the administrative capacity of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as the key issues in the process of integration into Europe, considering that effective veterinary and phytosanitary inspection at the borders of the Baltic states forms the basis for ensuring food safety, taking into consideration the Agreement on the Abolition of Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania and the Agreement on Free Trade in Agriculture Products between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania, proposes to the Baltic Council of Ministers: – to strengthen the veterinary, phytosanitary and food inspection in the Baltic states; – to continue the exchange of experience in harmonising the national legislation in the field of veterinary, phytosanitary and food inspection with that of the European Union; – to exchange information about the arrival of the goods not meeting the requirements of the veterinary and phytosanitary inspection of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and about the consignments of goods returned at the border; – to continue the regular exchange of the lists of the enterprises of food industry, which are approved by veterinary services as exporters. Tartu, 27 May 2000