March 26, 2007

Russia to resume US beef imports after investigation 
 

Russia will only continue source beef from the US only after Russian and American veterinary experts agree to hold a joint review of the companies involved in production, processing and storage of beef, Sergei Dankvert, director of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision, or Rosselkhoznadzor, said Friday (March 23).

Russia has stopped importing beef supplies from the US in 2003 on the grounds that the beef did not comply with Russian food safety standards.

The parties also discussed possible US supplies of rice to the Russian market, Rosselkhoznadzor's spokesman Alexei Alekseyenko said. Russia may decide on rice supplies after it receives information on the US system for monitoring security and quality, he added.