European Union (EU) agriculture ministers on Wednesday welcomed a deal between the bloc and Russia on EU meat exports to Russia.

Russia has previously threatened to ban all EU meat imports as from Jan. 1, 2007 when Bulgaria and Romania joins the EU, citing public health concerns.

The breakthrough was achieved after lengthy talks between the European Commission and the Russian public health authority in Moscow.

"The agreement reached today will guarantee the continuation of exports of animal products to Russia after Jan. 1, 2007," said the ministers.

The agreement will be signed in mid-January 2007 in Berlin, said the ministers. However, they failed to clarify whether Poland has changed its mind on this issue. Warsaw has threatened to veto the EU-Russia deal unless Moscow lifts a ban on Polish food imports imposed a year ago.