August 20, 2010

Russia lifts poultry import ban on 71 US companies

Russia lifted a trade ban on poultry imports from another US company on Thursday (Aug 19), bringing the total number to 71.

The company is owned by poultry producer Sanderson Farms, said the Russian agricultural watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor. Russia will retain the ban on 16 remaining companies that do not meet the country's sanitation requirements.

Russia banned imports of chlorine-treated poultry as of January 1, citing new safety requirements. US poultry has traditionally accounted for almost 80% of Russia's total poultry imports.

In late June, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US President Barrack Obama announced that Moscow and Washington had agreed to remove obstacles to US exports to Russia and restart US poultry supplies to Russia.