March 4, 2010

Russia to lift import bans on US pork

Russia will gradually lift import bans on US pork plants after Washington agreed to observe Russian food safety rules, the head of Russia's animal and plant health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said on Wednesday (March 3).

However, a US delegation visiting Moscow has yet to conclude talks on reopening the Russian market for US poultry, which was suspended in January.

Russia gradually suspended pork imports from specific plants from the second half of last year.

Russia ranks among the US top five markets for pork and is the single largest export market for US poultry. Exports to Russia of pork, poultry and beef combined earned the US more than US$1.3 billion in 2008.

Moscow has taken a hard line with the US on food safety, accusing American exporters of flouting Russian rules. The US says its meat is safe, and some critics said the bans could be politically motivated.

Meanwhile, separate poultry talks between the US delegation and Rosselkhoznadzor continued for the third day on Wednesday.

Russia suspended US chicken imports on January 19, due to a chlorine wash routinely used in US processing plants violates its food safety standards. However, talks last month in Moscow failed to resolve the issue.