Russia and the US have signed the agreement for the 2009 poultry quota, which is set at 750,000 tonnes.

The new agreement will allow the US 78.8 percent of the total Russian poultry import quota, and the percentage level is expected to be maintained in future years as Russia balances its import requirements with domestic production, said the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council.

The agreement also postpones restrictions on chlorine-treated US poultry imports until at least January 2010. The US poultry industry and government will find a permanent solution to the chlorine issue as there are no assurances beyond 2009.

Russia's chief sanitary officer with the Ministry of Health has also assured the US that moisture and frozen packaging requirements will not affect US trade in 2009.

The US and Russia governments have also agreed to address some plant inspection issues.

Russia's Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Services (VPSS) said it will conduct meat plant audits as early as February. However, the US government said the audits should not be done without further agreement on inspection protocol, as the previous protocol was still in effect.

Russia is the largest export market for US poultry, and is the fourth largest market for US pork. Russia imported US$720 million and US$191 million of US poultry and pork, respectively, in 2007.