Russia denies banning export of human clinical specimens

Moscow, June 2 (UNI) Russia's Federal Customs Service has denied media reports that it had banned the export of human clinical specimens, saying it only imposed certain restrictions.

''Customs authorities will give first priority to bio-materials necessary for emergency medical aid passing customs control on the Russian border,'' the Service said in a press release citing the new rules.

Russian media reported this week that Russia had suspended the export of all human clinical specimens due to threats posed by bio-terrorism, stressing the move could affect hundreds of patients and paralyse the Russian market for foreign clinical tests, valued at up to 150 million dollars.

The Customs Service director Andrei Belyaninov told journalists that the Customs service and the Russian Health and Social Development Ministry would soon work out a special procedure to regulate the export of bio-materials from the country.

''Together with the Russian Health Ministry, We will very soon work out a procedure to ensure comfortable conditions for people who are genuinely undergoing treatment, and not violating legal procedures,'' Belyaninov said.

Earlier, the Service said international demand for human specimens is high, and cases of criminal trade in specimens have been found.

''All civilised countries regulate exports and imports of biological materials for biological security reasons'' Russia's chief sanitary doctor, Gennady Onishchenko told leading business daily Kommersant while commenting on the new procedure.

UNI