Hand luggage of travellers from Britain will be checked up in search of meat

Russia's veterinary service has imposed control over hand-luggage in the possession of all travellers from Britain so as to rule out the spread of foot-and-mouth disease to Russia, chief Veterinary Inspector and head of the Russian Agriculture Ministry's veterinarian department Mikhail Kravchuk has said. The 191 border veterinary check-points have been instructed to check not only freight, but also hand-luggage belonging to those coming to Russia from Britain to prevent the entry of products of animal origin, "even including that intended for private use," Interfax cites Kravchuk as saying. At the present time, a ban is in force on bringing all livestock products from Britain into the country, Kravchuk went on. In addition, the veterinary service has banned the import of fish. "Of course, fish does not contract foot-and-mouth disease, but it could be brought in" with its containers, he noted.