August 24, 2010

Rosselkhoznadzor may ban US poultry after salmonella outbreak

The Russian consumer rights watchdog may ban US poultry imports after half a billion US eggs were recalled last week amid a salmonella outbreak, Rosselkhoznadzor said Monday (Aug 23).

The US egg producers recalled 550 million eggs last week after reports of salmonella poisoning in several states.

"In light of reports in the US media of an outbreak of salmonella caused by contaminated eggs, we are assessing the situation to find out if there is a need to toughen [regulations on] poultry imports from the United States," Gennady Onishchenko said.

He said the outbreak justified the sanctions Russia earlier imposed on chlorine-treated poultry imports from the US and called on the US government to provide more information.

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

The ban has since been lifted on poultry imports from 72 US companies, but retained on a remaining 15 companies that do not meet the country's safety requirements.