October 18, 2004
US Lifts Ban on French Poultry, Meat Products
The United States is lifting an eight-month ban on imports of some French pork and poultry products.
France's agriculture minister, Herve Gaymard, said Sunday that the US decision followed inspections by American health officials of four meat and poultry production sites in the country over the last month.
US officials imposed the ban in February, expressing concerns about food safety.
The series of inspections from Sept. 19 to Oct. 14 "have definitively lifted their doubts" about the health standards of the French products, according to a ministry spokesman.
French authorities were notified Saturday.
The move affects four agricultural producers of the 11 that faced the ban. The seven others did not agree to new inspections, and will not be authorized to export to the United States until they consent.
