Russia expects resolving US chicken row within two weeks 

Russia is still waiting for the US to evaluate the position on chicken import restrictions before resuming negotiations, but is hopeful that an agreement could be reached within two weeks.

 

Russia effectively banned US chicken imports from January 1 because of the common use of chlorine rinse in the meat's production. However, Russia only has enough chicken for the first three months of 2010, according to Ivan Obolentsev, chairman of the Agricultural Union of Russia.

 

Neither in Brazil or in the EU is there sufficient production to fill the deficit in Russia if US imports aren not resumed in the second quarter, he said.

 

After meeting US Agriculture Under-Secretary Jim Miller in Russia, Russian negotiators are waiting to hear the US position on the chlorine-rinse ban before resuming negotiations, Obolentsev said.

 

US producers should have begun preparing for Russia's ban on the chlorine rinse a year ago, he said. US officials argue chlorine is a good way to kill pathogens, is safe and helps protect consumers from food-borne illnesses.

 

Miller said Monday (Jan 25) the two countries are still discussing a "wide range of options," including the possibility that US processors alter their operations.

 

The US shipped 645,382 tonnes of chicken to Russia from January to October 2009, worth US$675.2 million, according to the US Poultry and Egg Export Council. 

 

Russian Agriculture Minister Elena Skrynnik said that the country should reduce its imports of poultry, currently 780,000 tonnes, "down to zero" over the next three years.