No abstract

The paper represents the analysis of the key parameters specifying the food safety system in the Russian Federation as of January 1, 2020. Such issues as competence of the veterinary experts and laboratories in the field of veterinary and sanitary inspection as well as availability of the necessary equipment including equipment for radiometric tests were particularly considered. Implementation of the internal audit procedure by the veterinary and sanitary testing laboratories was assessed. Data on the availability of the slaughterhouses and slaughter units/facilities for emergency slaughter as well as their staffing with the veterinarians are demonstrated. The study results indicate that 39% of the laboratories are not equipped with the necessary laboratory equipment; 8% of the laboratories perform tests using non-calibrated laboratory equipment, and only 2/3 of the laboratories are covered by the regular internal audits. Evidence of insufficient control over the attestation of the veterinarians involved in the veterinary and sanitary expertise was identified. Moreover, insufficient number of slaughter facilities and veterinary and sanitary testing laboratories in the regions of the country was highlighted as well as inadequate staffing of the laboratories with the veterinarians responsible for the official control of the compliance with the veterinary rules and technical regulations and for the veterinary and sanitary inspections. Therefore, in some regions of the country the national veterinary services lack any capacities necessary to perform the emergency slaughter of the diseased and suspect animals in the isolated and controlled environment with the subsequent on-site storage and decontamination of the slaughter products or their disposal or destruction. The study results demonstrate a number of gaps in the veterinary and sanitary inspection system thus indicating the need for corrective actions to be taken both on the federal and local levels.