January 20, 2010
Russia re-considers US poultry exports
The US may be allowed to continue poultry exports to Russia, but will have to review its chlorine treatment technologies in two or three months.
The supplies will continue under the previously established quota during a transition period to switch to new chlorine-free poultry treatment technologies.
Previously, Russia imposed a ban on chlorine-treated US poultry imports from January 1, citing new safety requirements. However, the US said this restriction would damage the country's poultry industry and push prices up for Russian consumers.
Both Russian and US specialists met in Moscow on Tuesday (Jan 19) to discuss the issue. The president of Russia's Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Alexander Shokhin, said talks will be ongoing till the end of the year.
Russia's quota for the US is expected to hit 600,000 tonnes of poultry this year. Imports from the US, the world's largest poultry producer and exporter, accounted for 22%, or 750,000 tonnes, of poultry consumed in Russia last year.
Russian producers and public have been speculating over the possible dangers of US poultry, citing excessive levels of hormones, antibiotics, chlorine and other chemicals.
The second round of poultry talks will be held in Moscow on January 20-21.
