KYIV. Nov 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The reorganization of the State Veterinary and Biosecurity Service of Ukraine has created serious risks for the entire Ukrainian agrarian sector, Honorary Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Pavlo Dostoyevksy said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

He said that the organization and legal vagueness of the absence of coordination by the newly created State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection with existing agencies threatens to increase the isolation of Ukraine, lessen the quality of food on the domestic market, and will lead to the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak spiraling out of control. Moreover, 36% of employees in the sector have been dismissed due to the ongoing reforms in the sector.

"The situation is critical. We plan to come to the Ukrainian prime minister this week jointly with public leaders and present our fears and provide solutions," he said.

The main demand of scientists is the suspension of the cabinet resolution on the liquidation of veterinary and biosecurity service divisions in the regions until January 1, 2017. He said that the operation of the veterinary police must be resumed and the structure of the State Veterinary and Biosecurity Service must not be changed until the ASF outbreak is liquidated.

Dostoyevksy said that the cabinet passed the resolution to reorganize the State Veterinary and Biosecurity Service and form the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection in September 2014. However, the newly created agency has not start operating, staff arrangements have not yet been approved, and it took a year to prepare the regulations of the service.

"Unfortunately, today it is unknown what the share the veterinary service will have in the new structure. Jointly with NGOs, we believe that the new service does not play the role of the state veterinary service. There are risks that the role of veterinaries and biosecurity staff will be annulled, while the situation with ASF is difficult," he said.

Rector of Bila Tserkva National Agriculture University, member of Kyiv Regional Council Anatoliy Danylenko said that UAH 335 million is to be provided by the national budget for 2016 to take anti-epizootic measures, while the draft budget foresees only 16% of the required sum.